NHS Ayrshire & Arran opened its first SCOTCAP (Scotland’s Colon Capsule Endoscopy Service) clinic on 24 February 2021 at Ayrshire Central Hospital.
Clinicians at Ayrshire Central Hospital are using this new technology, a tiny camera inside a pill called a Colon Capsule, to help early detection of bowel cancer and reduce waiting times.
As part of their COVID-19 remobilisation plan, NHS Ayrshire & Arran will use this technology as an alternative to a colonoscopy for suitable patients.
Mr Christopher Ray, Consultant Colorectal Surgeon and Clinical Lead for the project added:
“We are excited to be able to offer this an alternative to the conventional colonoscopy diagnostic method. Since the start of the pandemic, we have not been able to perform as many colonoscopy procedures in a day as we could before COVID-19. This new procedure will allow us to see and treat more patients and reduce waiting times.”
“The colon capsule endoscopy is a painless procedure suitable for many patients. It uses two tiny cameras inside a capsule. Once the capsule is swallowed the cameras take pictures of the lining of the bowel, enabling us to detect or exclude cancer more quickly and reduce the need for other more invasive tests. Patients are able to return home whilst the cameras do their work.”
More information please visit NHS Inform – https://www.nhsinform.scot/tests-and-treatments/non-surgical-procedures/colon-capsule-endoscopy