Endoscopy unit recognised for quality care

The Endoscopy unit at Macclesfield District General Hospital has been recognised for quality care and has achieved Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Accreditation. 

JAG accreditation, the UK wide recognised standard of excellence within endoscopy services, promotes quality improvement by highlighting areas of best practice and areas for change bringing benefits to both patients and staff. To achieve JAG accreditation the service must provide evidence that a number of specific standards have been met. 

Following the assessment in July 2024 and a subsequent reassessment in February 2025, the service has met the accreditation standards and has been awarded accreditation. 

The accreditation report stated that “The Endoscopy Department at Macclesfield General Hospital has recently been expanded to five procedure rooms to facilitate gender segregation and provide additional capacity.  

“The leadership team have worked extremely hard to implement safe and robust working practices and a supportive environment in which staff are encouraged to develop and achieve their potential.  

“During the deferral period, the service has completed all the required actions to achieve JAG accreditation, including clearing the waiting list backlog and implementing measures to improve patient privacy and dignity within the department.” 

The standard cover all aspects of a high-quality clinical service and was assessed against the following standards: 

• Safety - All patients with acute upper and lower GI bleeding are appropriately managed in line with national guidelines, including risk stratification to ensure timely investigation and treatment 

• Quality - Individual endoscopists are given feedback on their safety outcomes at least annually. If individual endoscopist performance levels are not achieved, the service manages underperformance according to national guidance 

• Respect and dignity - Patients’ confidentiality, privacy and dignity is protected throughout the pathway 

• Patient environment and equipment - Decontamination equipment is tested and validated according to national guidance and action is taken on results which fall outside acceptable parameters. All areas are well maintained and support efficient patient flow and ergonomic and efficient working. Access is restricted as appropriate 

• Access and booking - The service adheres to waiting time criteria for routine, surveillance and urgent cancer procedures 

• Aftercare - Patients and carers are told the outcome of the procedure and ongoing care, accompanied with a copy of the endoscopy report (or a patient-centred version) 

• Environment, training, opportunity and resources - Endoscopy trainees have at least 20 dedicated training lists annually which are planned at least 6 weeks in advance in addition to ad hoc training opportunities 

• Assessment and appraisal - Endoscopy trainees have an appraisal with their trainer (for UK trainees, this should be completed on the JETS e-portfolio) at least annually 

Dr John Hunter, Chief Medical Officer at East Cheshire NHS Trust, said: “We are delighted to receive JAG accreditation. It is testament to the hard work and dedication put in by the entire team and I’m so pleased that has been recognised.” 

“We’ve been able to demonstrate clinical excellence and, in equal measure, a good experience for our patients. 

“It has been hard work to achieve this but, as a team, we have all put in the effort to reach this level. Patients attending our unit are safe in the knowledge that we have achieved the highest standard in endoscopy care and we will continue to work and develop to maintain that.” 

Dr Mark Javis, JAG Accrediation Chair, said: “I am pleased to confirm that the service has met the accreditation standards, and is awarded JAG accreditation for 5 years, subject to successful completion of an annual  review.  

“We congratulate the team for the high standard of achievement, and for their hard work during the accreditation process.” 

END 

Notes for editors 

• For further information about East Cheshire NHS Trust, contact the Trust press office on 01625 663935.  

• East Cheshire NHS Trust is the main provider of acute and community health services for people across East Cheshire. The Trust is based at Macclesfield District General Hospital, and also manages Congleton War Memorial Hospital and Knutsford and District Community Hospital.  

• Follow East Cheshire NHS Trust on Twitter for all the latest news: @EastCheshireNHS  

• East Cheshire NHS Charity goes above and beyond standard Government funding to make your local NHS that extra special. From supporting staff health and wellbeing to providing toys to brighten up our young patients’ days to making long stay patients feel more at home – our mission is to make a visible difference. You can make a donation to the charity on JustGiving here.