IBD Surgical Outcome Registry

ACPGBI advice on COVID-19 is here

Information and Guidance for Endoscopy Services in the COVID-19 Pandemic

Updated advice 15/01/2021
The COVID-19 pandemic is now surging for the third time since its onset in the UK in January 2020. This wave is being exacerbated by the new, more transmissible strain, resulting in massive pressure on healthcare services, in many cases, beyond that seen in the first wave. Throughout, BSG, JAG, ACPGBI, AUGIS and other professional groups have issued guidance to emphasise the need to try and keep the fragile recovery of endoscopy services going as much as possible through the second wave and beyond. With the recent, rapid spread of infections, particularly the new variant, and surging hospital admissions, we are providing further advice.

The situation in many parts of the UK is similar to, if not worse than, March-April 2020, at which time we advised that all endoscopy except emergency and essential procedures should be paused to allow services to reorganise [1]. While the broad principles of this early guidance are still relevant, we have learned a great deal about COVID-19 and risks of infection since then and can refine our guidance.

An Update to Information and Guidance for Endoscopy Services in the Covid-19 Pandemic