CHEC, one of the UK’s first community-based providers of gastroenterology and endoscopy services, has announced its Nottingham site has received JAG accreditation – recognition of its high-quality standards of service delivery and patient care.

The company began offering endoscopy services from its Nottingham hospital in April 2022, and following an inspection from the Royal College of Physicians, will now hold the accreditation for five years, subject to an annual review.

CHEC Nottingham received accreditation for its ‘inspirational and dynamic leadership team which guides its team with dedication and passion’; ‘excellent planning and organisational skills, ensuring the smooth execution of day-to-day operational activities’; and overall feedback from patients, which the awarding body described as ‘excellent’.

Praise was also given for CHEC’s ‘15 Step Challenge’ – a real-time patient engagement assessment to improve its clinical services, which was adapted for CHEC and implemented in 2023.

CHEC Nottingham operates a gastroenterology as well as endoscopy diagnostic service in a purpose-built facility, providing a service for NHS patients who have been referred either directly from a GP or via the NHS Trust. Eleven CHEC hospitals across the country now offer gastroenterology and endoscopy services, with a further nine hospitals being commissioned this year. Nottingham is the first to receive JAG accreditation. 

The JAG accreditation programme works with endoscopy services across the UK to improve the quality of patient care. Accreditation is awarded to services which have demonstrated they meet best practice quality standards covering all aspects of an endoscopy service including quality & safety, patient experience and the workforce.

The Royal College of Physicians said in its feedback: “We congratulate the CHEC team for the high standard of achievement, and for their hard work during the accreditation process.”

The report added: “Congratulations to senior management on their responsiveness to suggestions for changes which are often implemented to improve the service for their patients or for the staff working in the unit.”

Professor Des Breen, Chief Medical Officer for CHEC, said: “The way we operate gastroenterology and endoscopy services at our Nottingham hospital provides an insight into our future as specialists in this key field of healthcare. It is an exemplary demonstration of what community healthcare services can achieve and has set a standard we now strive for at all our gastro hospitals.

“To be recognised with JAG accreditation is a significant milestone, and I want to personally thank the team for the incredible work they’ve put into getting us here. As an organisation, patient care and patient choice are our utmost priorities, and I know we will use this exciting moment as inspiration to continue pushing forward the standards of gastroenterology and endoscopy services in the community.”