Endoscopy

The University of Leicester Hospitals offer different Endoscopy Procedures across Leicestershire. An endoscopy is a test to look inside your body. This procedure normally means a long, thin tube with a small camera inside, called an endoscope, is passed into your body through a natural opening such as your mouth or into your bowels.  

There is also a capsule endoscopy which is a small camera the size of a large vitamin pill which can be swallowed to take pictures.   

Your GP or a specialist doctor may refer you for an endoscopy if you’re having certain symptoms. Please discuss with your GP or specialist if you have any concerns about this.  

The Endoscopy procedure you have been referred to have will be done at an endoscopy department in a hospital. There are different types of endoscopy that look at different parts of the body. The type of endoscopy you have will depend on your symptoms, please read within types of Endoscopy Procedures to see all the patient pre-procedure information before attending for your procedure.  

You will find within the procedure information and advice, information about certain medications but if you have any worries or concerns please contact the endoscopy department you are attending for advice, and we will be happy to discuss this with you.  

Our departments 

Our endoscopy departments perform a wide range of routine, urgent, and emergency procedures to help diagnose and treat various health conditions. Leicester hospitals have 3 large acute hospitals which each have an endoscopy department. These are: 

Our Endoscopy Unit at Leicester Royal Infirmary is located on the second floor of the Windsor Building. Find accessibility information for the Endoscopy Unit on AccessAble. 

When you arrive at the Windsor Building, take the lift or stairs to the second floor and follow the signs to Endoscopy. Just inside the entrance, you’ll find our reception desk on the right-hand side. Please check in with reception before taking a seat in the waiting area so we know you’ve arrived. 

Procedures we perform

At LRI, we carry out both diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy procedures, including:

  • Colonoscopy 
  • Flexible Sigmoidoscopy 
  • Gastroscopy 
  • Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) 
  • Patency Capsules 
  • Small Bowel Capsule Endoscopy 
  • Colon Capsule Endoscopy 

High standards of care 

The Endoscopy Unit at LRI is JAG accredited, which means we meet high standards for patient safety, quality, and care in gastrointestinal endoscopy. Learn more about JAG accreditation. 

Contact details 

If you have questions about your procedure or medications, please contact our nursing team: 

Call: 0116 258 6997 
Opening hours: 9am to 5pm, Monday to Sunday 

If you need to cancel or rearrange your appointment, contact the waiting list office.

Call: 0116 258 6984 
Available: Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm 

Email (non-medical queries): [email protected] 

Our Endoscopy Unit is situated on the first floor of the main Glenfield Hospital building. To find the unit, follow the signs for Ward 25E, once on the first floor, look for the Endoscopy signs. 

For wheelchair access or other needs, see our accessibility information. 

Procedures offered 

At Glenfield, we carry out a wide range of diagnostic and treatment endoscopy procedures, including: 

  • Colonoscopy 
  • Flexible Sigmoidoscopy 
  • Gastroscopy 
  • Bronchoscopy 
  • Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) 
  • Endobronchial Ultrasound (EBUS) 
  • Thoracoscopy 
  • Transoesophageal Echocardiogram (TOE) 
  • ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) 

High standards of care 

Our Endoscopy Unit at Glenfield is JAG accredited, meaning we meet rigorous standards in safety, quality, and patient care. Learn more about JAG accreditation. 

Contact details 

If you have questions about your procedure or any medications: 

Call the nursing team on 0116 258 3130 
Open daily from 9 am to 5 pm 

If you need to cancel or reschedule your appointment: 

Call the waiting list office on 0116 258 698 
Available Monday to Friday, 10 am to 3 pm 
For non-medical queries: [email protected] 

The main Endoscopy Unit at Leicester General Hospital is located on the ground floor, along the main corridor. Simply follow the signs for Endoscopy from the main entrance. There is also a second endoscopy facility on-site, operated by the InHealth team, located in Car Park 1, directly opposite the hospital’s main entrance. 

Your appointment letter will clearly state which unit you should attend. If you are unsure, or didn’t receive confirmation by phone, please contact the waiting list office (details below) before your appointment. 

Find accessibility information for the following areas: 

Procedures we offer 

At LGH, we perform a range of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy procedures, including: 

  • Colonoscopy 
  • Flexible Sigmoidoscopy 
  • Gastroscopy 

Contact details 

If you have questions about your procedure or medications: 

Call the nursing team: 0116 258 8843 
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm 

If you need to cancel or change your appointment: 

Waiting list office: 0116 258 6984 
Available Monday to Friday, 10am – 3pm 
Email (non-medical queries): [email protected] 

In addition to our main hospital sites, we also offer diagnostic endoscopy procedures at several community hospitals. These are available for patients who meet specific safety criteria. 

Endoscopy procedures are currently carried out at the following community locations: 

  • St Luke’s Hospital, Market Harborough 
  • Melton Mowbray Hospital 
  • Loughborough Hospital 
  • Hinckley Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) 

Booking your appointment 

Our administration team will try to arrange your appointment at the hospital closest and most convenient to where you live. 

However, if your procedure is more complex or involves treatment, it may need to be done at one of our three main hospitals (Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester General Hospital, or Glenfield Hospital), where additional facilities and support are available. 

Contact details

If you would prefer your appointment to be at a different hospital, please get in touch with our admin team. They’ll be happy to check whether a change is possible and appropriate for your care. 

Contact us on: 0116 258 6984 or 0116 258 6982 
Phone lines open: Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm 

When you arrive at the unit 

Please report to the reception desk at your allocated endoscopy unit. Checking in on arrival helps us keep your appointment running smoothly. 

Bringing someone with you 

You may bring a relative or carer with you. However, due to limited space in our waiting areas, we may ask them to wait in their car or elsewhere during your visit. If needed, you can leave their contact details with us, and we will call them when your appointment is complete. 

In the University Hospitals of Leicester, we undertake a wide range of endoscopy procedures, the type of procedure can vary depending on the site and this is because of the availability of equipment and specialist availability to perform the procedure.  

If you are Diabetic, please read the information relating to your procedure type and appointment time. This can be found at the bottom of this page.  
 

If you take any blood thinning medication, please call the department you are attending for the correct information on how to manage.

Further advice on how to take the bowel preparation for the Colonoscopy or Flexible sigmoidoscopy can be found below.  

Please select the bowel preparation information which relates to the bowel prep you have been given: 

Endoscopy is a medical procedure that helps doctors look inside your body to find out what might be causing symptoms. It can help diagnose many different conditions.
After your procedure, you will usually be given an endoscopy report before you go home. A nurse will explain the results to you.
If a condition or illness is found during the procedure, it will be listed in your report.
You can use the links below to learn more about conditions that may be diagnosed through endoscopy, or to find more information about something your GP or specialist has mentioned.

Conditions Diagnosed by Endoscopy

  • Oesophagus, Stomach, and Upper Small Bowel
  • Acid Reflux & Oesophagitis
  • Hiatus Hernia
  • Barrett’s Oesophagus
  • Coeliac Disease
  • Stomach Ulcer
  • Helicobacter Pylori (H. Pylori)
  • Gallstones
  • Vomiting Blood
  • Varices
  • Stomach Cancer
  • Oesophageal (food pipe) Cancer
  • Large and Small Bowel
  • Constipation
  • Low Fibre Intake
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • Diverticular Disease
  • Crohn’s Disease & Ulcerative Colitis (IBD)
  • Piles (Haemorrhoids)
  • Bowel Polyps
  • Colon or Bowel Cancer

Note: Bowel cancer screening is available in England. If you’re aged 60 or over, you’ll receive a screening kit by post. Over time, this will expand to include people aged 50 to 75.
If you’re 75 or older, you can still request a test. Call the free helpline on 0800 707 6060, or visit the NHS website for more information.

Useful links
Here are some useful websites for information and support:
British Liver Trust
Macmillan Cancer Support
Bowel Cancer UK
Nutrition Support
British Lung Foundation
National Pancreas Foundation
Bladder and Bowel UK
British Heart Foundation
Medical Imaging (X-rays, CT scans, MRI, Ultrasound, and more)