Heartbeat: Endoscopy training – national training centre

February 1, 2023

Please note the photograph used alongside this article in the print version of Heartbeat is incorrect. We apologise to the endoscopy team for the error.

Gastroscopy and colonoscopy are important diagnostic and treatment tools used for a variety of medical conditions and in order to ensure that colleagues are properly trained to use these tools, it is essential that they have access to high-quality training opportunities where they are able to get hands on.

Endoscopy training courses are an important and mandatory part of the Specialist registrar training and our Trust has now become a national training centre for endoscopy, delivering high quality endoscopy training.

To find out more, Heartbeat spoke to Imran Ghanghro, Consultant Gastroenterologist and Endoscopy Training Lead, he said, “We are fortunate that we have now been able to provide National Endoscopy Training Courses at SWBH, we are now a spoke centre for the West Midlands Training academy.

“We have conducted three training courses including Colonoscopy upskilling and two Train the Colonoscopy Trainer Courses so far and have received excellent feedback. As a part of being a spoke site for the training academy, we are also providing immersive training which is intense colonoscopy training for either surgical or gastro registrars identified by the deanery to help them improve the skill and increase the number of procedures.

“We have also delivered training and teaching at the Birmingham City University and our endoscopy staff has been helping with training courses. SWBH faculty also helped with BSG taster course at BCU in 2022 that was very much appreciated by the trainees. We have colonoscopy basic skills courses scheduled in the end of Jan as well as in March this year and we will be contributing to endoscopy training throughout the year.

“This is something that has been a long time in development, first outlined in 2019 but unfortunately held up with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now that we’re beginning to recover from the impact of COVID-19 we’re able to start reaping the benefit of our new training and development strategy. Crucially, we’re now a nationally recognised provider of endoscopy training, which attracts talented staff and consultants and ultimately leads to better quality care and outcomes for patients.”

For more information about the training opportunities available contact Imran.Ghanghro1@nhs.net