HEALTH chiefs have officially reopened Poole Hospital’s endoscopy unit, following a £500,000 refurbishment. Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust says patients will now benefit from state-of-the-art technology and more efficient services.

The hospital is the centre for the Dorset bowel screening programme which, according to recent statistics, has one of the highest uptakes for bowel screening in England.

An endoscopy is a procedure where the inside of your body is examined internally using a thin, long flexible tube with a video camera at the end.

Sylvia Lowery, endoscopy senior sister at Poole Hospital, said: “The newly-refurbished unit will allow us to provide a more streamlined level of care, meaning a better experience for our patients.”

Recovery wards, waiting areas and toilets have been improved to increase patient privacy.

Meanwhile, patient monitoring systems have been introduced for every bed and 3D technology is available in procedure rooms.

Mrs Lowery said: “The new segregated wards and waiting rooms will allow patients more privacy and state-of-the-art technologies will improve patient experience.

“The refurbishment has significantly improved the facility and will benefit all patients using the service. We have received very positive feedback so far.”

The unit was opened by Dr Alistair Somerville-Ford, who has previously donated equipment to the hospital.

It also houses a refurbished on-site decontamination facility to enable the unit to operate more efficiently, said a Poole Hospital spokesman. A self-service check-in system is due to be installed at the endoscopy unit in June.