The Endoscopy Department at Westmorland General Hospital, Kendal, has received accreditation for providing excellent patient care. 

To receive accreditation from the Royal College of Physicians' Joint Advisory Group (JAG), a service must provide clear evidence it has met all of the JAG standards, which are organised into four domains: clinical quality; patient experience; workforce; and training. 

Services submit evidence annually to demonstrate they are continuing to meet the standards and have an assessment carried out on-site every five years.

Lindsey Kelsall, clinical lead for endoscopy for University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It is incredibly motivational for the team at Kendal to have achieved the JAG accreditation. It’s a testament to the care they provide to patients.

She added: “Some people can feel afraid and anxious before visiting the Endoscopy Department so our team members work hard to build a relationship.

“The staff in Endoscopy have exceptional communication skills and provide empathy and reassurance. As a consequence, the feedback we receive from patients is highly positive.”