Wolfson proves a world beater in endoscopy
The Wolfson Unit for Endoscopy has been awarded ‘World Centre of Excellence’ status for the third time in recognition of its achievements in endoscopy practice, research and medical training.
It is one of two UK organisations granted the honour by the World Endoscopic Organisation, highlighting its on-going contribution to screening and treatment of bowel cancer and other related conditions.
“We’ve been a victim of our own success,” reflects Professor Brian Saunders, part of the 100-strong team who carry out up to 37,000 procedures a year.
The unit was created in 1996-97 in response to government calls for a national bowel cancer screening programme which required training a new generation of clinical staff in endoscopy. It coincided with St. Mark’s Hospital moving to the Northwick Park site.
Professor Saunders added: “The earlier we can catch bowel cancer, the better the chances of survival and that goes hand-in-hand with developing new technologies.”
In that spirit, the unit became one of the first in the UK to use capsule endoscopy which uses a tiny wireless camera inside the capsule to take pictures inside the digestive tract.
This is opposed to traditional endoscopy, which involves passing a long, flexible tube equipped with a video camera down the throat or through the rectum.
Endoscopy has also moved on from being a screening tool to a procedural one, where cancerous tissue can be removed non-invasively with some patients allowed home later the same day.
Even in the face of the pandemic, the unit continued its internationally renowned training virtually, with the annual Frontier’s Congress attracting more than 3,000 delegates from around the world learning about the latest developments in colorectal surgery, gastroenterology and endoscopy.