Plans to obtain accreditation for the endoscopy service could lead to more than 1,500 extra sessions being provided, the Health Minister believes.

But David Ashford has ruled out moves to expand the service for the time being.

He was responding to continuing concerns over failings to carry out follow-up endoscopy appointments dating back as far as 2011.

An independent review of failings in the endoscopy service, made public for the first time last month, shows alarm bells were raised numerous times by clinicians.

It was commissioned the previous year after it emerged that 157 patients had potentially been affected by delays to follow-up colonoscopy appointments between 2014 and 2017.

Mr Ashford said the latest figures he has shows that 98% of all follow-ups are being completed on time.

And he said that in the financial year so far (April to November, with December’s figures still being finalised) an extra 892 endoscopies have been delivered compared to this point last year.

Mr Ashford said a business case had been put forward containing five policy options.

He said the option he has chosen to progress this year is to seek to obtain accreditation rather than considering expansion of the endoscopy service.

The Minister explained: ’Currently the endoscopy service does not hold JAG (Royal College of Physicians Joint Advisory Group on GI Endoscopy) accreditation.

’We need to work towards that as a matter of urgency as the standards assess services that they cover against clinical quality, quality of the patient experience, workforce and training.

’When a service registers with JAG they become part of an ongoing annual programme of quality improvement and rigorous ongoing assessment.’

Mr Ashford said that by applying for JAG accreditation, it will enable the service to be supported on assessment of performance and receive support on planning and future development.

With this support it is estimated that a further 1,530 endoscopy sessions could be delivered annually, he said.

It will also help by providing external oversight and monitoring.

The Minister said: ’Once the accreditation and the efficiency and support that comes with that has been achieved then we can consider an expansion of the service.’

He pointed out that an expansion of the endoscopy service would have an impact on other areas such as histology and pathology. ’We need to make sure those services can also be in a position to cope with any long term increased demand before any expansion,’ he said.

The island’s Health and Care Association believes there was a ’complete failure’ to carry out follow-up endoscopy from as far back as 2011, with some bowel patients forgotten and reminders ignored. Some may have subsequently died from undiagnosed bowel disease, HACA believes.

An independent report carried out by MiAA reveals warnings by clinical staff were not acted upon.