Torbay Hospital endoscopy unit awarded 'gold standard' for patient care

Torbay Hospital’s endoscopy service has been awarded full national accreditation following a rigorous assessment of its clinical standards and patient care.

The recognition was granted by the Joint Advisory Group for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (JAG) after a detailed inspection on 16 December 2025. 

The accreditation confirms that the service meets all national best practice standards regarding safety, patient experience, workforce, leadership, and training.

The award is valid for five years and remains subject to an annual review to ensure standards are maintained.

During the assessment, JAG inspectors praised the department for its exemplary leadership and its strong focus on patient-centred care. 

The report highlighted the excellent collaboration between medical, nursing, administrative, managerial, and decontamination teams, which contributed to an efficient patient flow and a calm, well-managed environment.

Assessors also noted the high quality of education and training provided at the hospital, which includes a nationally recognised programme. 

Furthermore, the unit's booking team was commended for its motivation and its effective management of patient waiting times.

Dr Sandip Bhatt, Endoscopy Clinical Lead, said the achievement reflects the skill and professionalism of the entire multidisciplinary team. 

“Achieving full JAG accreditation means a great deal to our whole team. Endoscopy is a genuinely multidisciplinary service, and this recognition reflects the skill, compassion and professionalism of colleagues across medical, nursing, decontamination, administration, managerial and the wider clinical teams. We are committed to giving every patient a safe, respectful and calm experience and I’m incredibly proud of the way we work together to make that happen every day,” he said. 

The accreditation comes as the unit continues to manage a high volume of work, carrying out approximately 12,000 procedures every year. 

These include colonoscopies, flexible sigmoidoscopy, and specialist therapeutic procedures.

Joe Teape, Chief Executive, said the award is a well-deserved reflection of the care staff show every day. 

He said: “I’m really proud of our endoscopy team for achieving full JAG accreditation. This is a big moment for them, and it reflects the professionalism, skill and care they show every single day. What stood out to me in the assessment is exactly what we see all year round — a calm, well run service, great teamwork across all parts of the unit, and a real focus on giving people the best possible experience. This accreditation is well deserved.”

As part of the ongoing development of the service, two recommendations were made for the future. 

These involve reviewing job planning once a new Electronic Patient Record goes live in April 2026 and auditing inpatient capacity to ensure the continued delivery of timely procedures.