About our service
County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust (CDDFT) provides a comprehensive endoscopy service across its hospital sites. We deliver diagnostic and therapeutic gastrointestinal endoscopy for adult patients, supporting a wide range of clinical pathways including:
- Upper gastrointestinal
- Lower gastrointestinal
- Hepatobiliary
- Surveillance
- Cancer pathways
- Urgent referrals
All services are delivered in line with national guidance and local commissioning arrangements.
Collaboration and partnerships
Our endoscopy service works closely with other regional units through the North East and North Cumbria Endoscopy Network and maintains strong relationships with affiliated services, including:
- Gastroenterology
- Colorectal and upper gastrointestinal surgery
- Hepatology
- Oncology
- Radiology and pathology
- Anaesthetics
- Primary care and community services
We have clear referral pathways and shared protocols to ensure timely access, continuity of care, and appropriate onward referrals. We also engage with regional networks and national programmes to support service resilience, mutual aid, and best practice.
Patient involvement
Patient groups and support services play a vital role in service development. We actively consider patient experience feedback and work with Trust-wide patient experience teams to ensure care is responsive to patient needs and expectations.
Visiting our units
We welcome patients, families, and carers to our Endoscopy Units at:
Opening hours
Our Endoscopy Units are open from 8am – 6pm, 7 days per week (except Bishop Auckland Hospital, which is open Monday – Saturday).
Our services
We strive to deliver high-quality care and provide a wide range of therapeutic, diagnostic, and surveillance services, including:
- Colonoscopy
- Gastroscopy
- Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
- Cystoscopy
- Cytosponge
- Bronchoscopy
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
- Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy (PEG)
- Bowel Cancer Screening Programme
- Capsule Endoscopy
- Complex polyp management
Please note: all services are offered within CDDFT, however some may only be delivered on specific sites.
Should you require any further information or support, please contact any of our units.