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Following the annual GRS census and unit information questions in April 2017, JAG has published analysis of the data submitted by services in Frontline Gastroenterology.  This provides a unique insight into endoscopy services across all nations of the UK involving the acute and non-acute NHS sector as well as the independent sector.

The analysis showed that many services are not meeting national waiting time targets. Shortages of endoscopists and nursing staff were cited as the biggest barrier that prevents units meeting the demand, with many NHS services undertaking ‘insourcing’ in their unit as well as ‘outsourcing’ patients to other services.

This is the first published overview of all endoscopy services in the UK including both the NHS and independent sectors. It provides a unique insight into the pressures that are being experienced and is a useful reference text when capacity planning. 

To download the census results, please see Frontline Gastroenterology.

The National Endoscopy Database: Automated Performance Reports to Improve Quality Outcomes Trial (NED APRIQOT) is an exciting 3 year project which will focus on utilising data from the JAG National Endoscopy Database in order to:

• improve colonoscopy polyp detection in the UK, and so improve outcomes
• identify unwarranted variation in endoscopy performance, determine what the optimal key performance indicators and minimum standards should be, and develop automated feedback of performance to endoscopists and endoscopy units.

The project starts in April 2018 and is a collaboration with Newcastle University. For further information please see the Health Foundation website - http://www.health.org.uk/programmes/insight-2017/projects/ned-apriqot-%E2%80%93-national-endoscopy-database-automated-performance

JAG have reviewed the accreditation pathway for accredited services to reduce burden while still providing a robust assessment of the standards. We are therefore making the following changes to the accreditation pathway:

• Accredited services will no longer be required to submit their annual review every October and will instead submit their annual review on the anniversary of their accreditation assessment
• Accredited services will no longer be required to submit their GRS in April, and will instead submit it at the same time as their annual review (on the anniversary of their accreditation assessment)
• Service transition onto the new process in 2018, which will mean that some services will be required to submit their annual review at an earlier date. All services have been written to to advise them of this
• Services that are not accredited will not be affected by these changes and will still submit their GRS census in April and October.

 For more information please see JAG briefing 18/03, which provides a breakdown of the changes to the annual review and how they will be implemented.