North West Endoscopy Training Academy

We are delighted to announce the launch of the North West Endoscopy Training Academy.

In 2021, following the publication of the Richards Review for Diagnostic Services, a north west team made up of senior endoscopy clinicians, workforce leads in trusts, universities involved in endoscopy training, cancer alliance workforce leads, and Health Education England (HEE) came together to collaboratively design the model for a new North West Endoscopy Training Academy supported by national funding of £2.5 million.

The model developed by the north west team has been praised by the national diagnostics team as being innovative, ambitious and designed to deliver the ambition of the Richards Review for endoscopy services.

The North West Endoscopy Training Academy will build on the existing expertise for endoscopy training in the region to deliver on the following areas:

• Develop a training environment that will support the development of the whole of the endoscopy workforce:
  • Endoscopists-in-training from all disciplines and backgrounds
  • Established endoscopists
  • Endoscopy support staff and administrative staff
• Accelerate the time to independent endoscopy practice for endoscopists-in-training
• Provide intensive training to support the acquisition of a high standard of skill, knowledge and behaviour by the endoscopy workforce
• Improve the quality and capacity of endoscopy training and supervision
• Improve the patient experience of endoscopy throughout the complete journey

The academy is led by the Mersey School of Endoscopy (MSE), based within the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Trust. MSE has endoscopy training units based at both the Royal Liverpool University Hospital and University Hospital Aintree and is one of the oldest and largest National Endoscopy Training Centres in the UK.

The development of the North West Endoscopy Academy represents an exciting evolution for endoscopy training in the North West. The whole of the endoscopy workforce will benefit from the collaboration and shared vision of all those involved. I am delighted that the MSE has been a part of this.

Dr Paul Collins, Director of the Mersey School of Endoscopy

Spoke training centres in Greater Manchester (Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust) and Lancashire and South Cumbria (Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust) will lead and co-ordinate on programmes of training for the whole of the north west.

The North West Endoscopy Academy is a hugely exciting opportunity to develop the quality of endoscopic training in the region. At MFT we are focussed on delivering excellent training that supports all aspects of work in the endoscopy unit. We are looking forward to working with the entire academy to deliver these aims.

Dr Mike Burkitt, Deputy Medical Director, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust 

We are delighted and excited about the opportunities presented to us with the establishment of L&SC as a spoke centre. Drawing on the expertise of local, regional, and national faculty and working collaboratively with the hub we intend to deliver high quality endoscopy training in a sustainable manner.

Dr Murugesan, Clinical Director, Lancashire and South Cumbria North West Endoscopy Academy

Liverpool John Moores University has a strong track record of supporting innovation in endoscopy training and will continue to play a central role in the delivery of the work of the academy.

Historically, the standard of endoscopy training and mentorship for trainees has been variable, limited by a lack of access to good quality simulators and dependent on the abilities of the individual trainers they happen to encounter. Likewise, there have been few opportunities for established endoscopists to advance their skills and adopt new techniques. The establishment of the Endoscopy Training Academy promises consistent, high-quality, coordinated training across the North-West, and will provide targeted support and training for those wishing to take their practice to a higher level.

Susan Baker, Senior Lecturer, Advanced Practice, Liverpool John Moores University

Dr Neil Haslam, previous Chair of the National JAG Quality Assurance of Endoscopy Units Committee, has been appointed as the Clinical Lead for the academy and has played a key role in its development.

This is a hugely exciting opportunity for the North West to deliver high quality training to the whole endoscopy workforce.  We aim to train, develop and upskill the whole workforce ensuring patients receive a first-class experience from the booking team at the start of the journey to the discharge processes from our Endoscopy Nurses at the end of the journey

Neil Haslam, Clinical Lead for the North West Endoscopy Academy

I’d like to pass my sincere thanks to the clinicians, educators and experts who have led and supported this important development in the north west. A special thanks goes to my HEE team who have expertly convened partners and providers in to an exemplar of a collaboration. I look forward to hearing about the academy’s successes.

Christopher Cutts, Regional Director, HEE in the North West

If you would like to hear more about our work at the North West Endoscopy Academy please contact us at Ahn-tr.nweacademy@nhs.net.