Colonoscopy centres
If blood is found in the patient’s stool, the screening organisation will refer your patient to a colonoscopy centre for follow-up consultation. The colonoscopy centre will conduct the admission appointment and the colonoscopy and will coordinate the diagnostics, surveillance and transfer after treatment. It will also forward the available admission capacity to the screening organisation, taking into account the colonoscopy capacity and the agreed waiting times between appointments.
Quality requirements
The quality requirements for the screening colonoscopy have been formulated by the national colonoscopy quality requirement working group. The RIVM, de Nederlandse Vereniging Maag- Darm- Leverartsen, Nederlandse Vereniging van Heelkunde, Nederlandse Internisten Vereniging, Verpleegkundigen & Verzorgenden Nederland (these are all associations of healthcare professionsals) and health screening organisations are represented in this working group.
Referral role: regional coordinating gastrointestinal and liver officer (RCMDL)
The referral role is responsible for independent colonoscopy quality assurance and for the coordination of the diagnostics. The role is carried out by an RCMDL. The RCMDL works under assignment from the health screening organisation.
Approval
Colonoscopy centres that carry out colonoscopies following a referral from the health screening programme must satisfy certain quality requirements. The approval check is carried out by the RCMDL, under the responsibility of the screening organisation.
Auditing
Following approval, the centres and the endoscopists working there will be audited at pre-determined times in accordance with the audit requirements. The audits will be carried out by the RCMDL, under the responsibility of the screening organisation.
Protocol for approval and audit of colonoscopy centres and endoscopists
More information about the quality requirements can be found in the Protocol for approval and audit of colonoscopy centres and endoscopists.
If you have any questions or if your colonoscopy centre is interested in carrying out colonoscopies for the bowel cancer screening programme, please contact the screening organization.