New bowel cancer technology launches at Louisa Jordan Hospital

A new ground-breaking technology to detect bowel cancer is being used at the NHS Louisa Jordan Hospital in Glasgow.

The health board say Scotland’s Colon Capsule Endoscopy Service (SCOTCAP), will help detect the cancer earlier and cut waiting times.

The clinic launched at the Scottish Exhibition Centre site on Wednesday.

NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde and NHS Lanarkshire are the latest Health Boards to open clinics as part of the SCOTCAP programme.

Clinicians from NHS Lanarkshire examined patients at NHS Louisa Jordan, using a tiny camera inside a pill on December 11.

The roll-out of the service, backed by the Scottish Government, has been accelerated in response to the pressures faced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer globally and has a very high incidence in Scotland.

Around 70,000 people undergo colonoscopy treatment in Scotland each year.

NHS Lanarkshire are hosting their Colon capsule endoscopy clinics at NHS Louisa Jordan and University Hospital Monklands, while NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde patients will attend NHS Louisa Jordan.

Professor Colin McKay, chief of medicine, North Sector, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said: “Colon capsule endoscopy will make an important contribution to large bowel investigation as our services recover from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“This exciting development will help cut waiting times and will mean that many patients will avoid the need for more invasive tests.”

Ans Khan, NHS Lanarkshire associate medical director said: “We are excited to offer this new diagnostic procedure to people with suspected colonic conditions.

“Colon capsule endoscopy is suitable for many patients as a painless alternative to conventional colonoscopy. It enables us to conveniently explore the entire colon and can help us to detect or exclude cancer more quickly, as well as reducing the waiting time for colonoscopies.”

The new approach was developed between the public sector and industry through an innovation partnership and approved following the largest evaluation in the UK to date.

That involved nearly 450 patients across three health boards and has been championed by clinical lead Professor Angus Watson of NHS Highland.

In the coming months the new service will be made available to patients across the country.