A new endoscopy unit at St Helier Hospital has reopened after a multi million pound revamp.

The newly refurbished unit, which uses fibre optic cameras to examine patients' digestive and respiratory systems, was given a £1.4 million refurbishment earlier this year. This refurbishment and redesign was lead by doctors and nurses working in the unit who used their expert knowledge to ensure the layout was as safe and efficient as possible.

A large cash injection has funded an additional doctor and four nurses on the unit, new state-of-the-art equipment and an innovative decontamination unit which efficiently cleans, processes and stores the endoscopes, valued at £600,000 alone.

The investment has additionally funded a new £80,000 bigger and brighter recovery area as well as a new patient waiting room, costing £150,000, funded by the St. Helier League of Friends.

As endoscopy tests can detect life-threatening cancers these improvements, which mean patients are receiving treatment quicker than ever before, have been welcomed by both hospital staff and patients. Tom Blake, MP for Carshalton and Wallington, who opened the unit, said: “It is obvious that the refurbishment, which has been designed from the ground up by the doctors, nurses and other staff who work here, means that local people are receiving a high level of care promptly.”

Chief Executive Matthew Hopkins who also attended the opening ceremony said: “The endoscopy staff have worked hard to make sure that the care they are giving to our patients is absolutely second to none, and on behalf of the Trust and the people that we serve, I would like to say a huge thank you to each and every one of them.

"They should all be very proud of what they have achieved.”

The Trust's leading doctor for endoscopy, Ashraf Raja, said staff have seen a huge increase in the number of people who need endoscropic procedures and it it therefore vital that patients are treated as quickly as possible and to the highest standard available. He said: "The new decontamination unit is absolutely state-of-the-art, and I think we are all particularly proud of it," said Mr Raja.