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DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1704229
THE JOINT ADVISORY GROUP ON GI ENDOSCOPY (JAG) SURVEY OF UK ENDOSCOPY SERVICES: RESULTS FROM THE 2019 CENSUS
Publication History
Publication Date:
23 April 2020 (online)
Aims To understand factors related to endoscopy quality, workforce and training across services in the UK.
Methods The biennial census of all UK JAG-registered services was conducted in April 2019. Questions were devised by an expert panel covering domains of activity, workforce and waiting times.
Results The response rate was 68.4%. A total of 2,133,541 endoscopic procedures were performed in 2018. In March 2019, 31,938 endoscopy lists were delivered (mean 99.2 ± 95.7 per service).
The responding services employed 5,578 endoscopists (mean 17.32 ± 10.13, 12% non-medical), 1,366 trainees (mean 4.24 ± 6.43) and 12,680 nurses and allied health professionals (AHP) (mean 39.94 ± 284.81). There was a nursing and AHP vacancy rate of 7.29%. Region (χ2(9) = 19.18, p = 0.02) and service type (χ2(2) = 78.74, p < 0.001) had a significant association with vacancy. Out of the lists performed by trainees, 51.9% were for training only. An average of 7.46 (± 1.45) oesophago-gastroduodenoscopies and 3.86 (± 0.85) colonoscopies were booked for each training list. There was a significant regional influence on number of trainee lists (p < 0.001).
In the first 3 months of 2019, waiting time targets were met by 73.7% of services for urgent cancer, 68.7% for routine waits and 63.4% for surveillance waits. There was a significant difference in meeting targets between region (p < 0.01) and service type (p < 0.01). The commonest reasons for this were endoscopist, physical and nursing capacity. JAG accredited services were more likely to meet routine and surveillance wait targets than unaccredited services (p < 0.001). The mean standard DNA (Did Not Attend) rate for March 2019 was 3.48 (± 3.07).
Conclusions This census reflects the most extensive data regarding current UK endoscopy practice. There is evidence of service pressure, affecting wait times and training opportunities with significant regional and service-specific variability.
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