When should I book in for open access endoscopy?

Fit, otherwise healthy patients with indications for colonoscopy including per rectal bleeding, family history of bowel cancer, personal history of polyps, positive faecal occult blood test.
Open Access Endoscopy is a direct referral system to allow patients with a letter of referral from GP or health care professional to be booked for routine gastrointestinal endoscopic procedures WITHOUT prior consultation with the gastroenterologist. Open access endoscopy can be booked in by the GP directly, or by patients with a referral letter.
This service is available to patients WITHOUT SIGNIFICANT CO-MORBIDITIES and who are under the age of 80 years old. Patients who access this service SHOULD NOT BE ON CLOPIDOGREL, WARFARIN OR OTHER FORMS OF ANTICOAGULATION OR ANTIPLATELET AGENTS.
Patients may be on aspirin, dipyridamole and NSAIDS. These do not need to be stopped prior to procedure.
If the patient has significant comorbidities or are on anticoagulation or antiplatelet agents or is elderly, then these patients should be referred through our Online Referral Links or referred to our practice with a referral letter so that we can discuss appropriate care and management. 
Patients who access our Open Access Endoscopy service will be contacted by an experienced registered nurse who will provide bowel preparation advice.
BOOK OPEN ACCESS ENDOSCOPY NOW BY COMPLETING THE OPEN ACCESS ENDOSCOPY FORM BELOW.

 ◎ When should I NOT book in for open access enodscopy? Instead book in for a consultation prior to endoscopic procedure.
If you have one of the following conditions, you should have a consultation prior to endoscopic procedure. You should not book in for open access endoscopy. Instead book for a consultation prior to endoscopic procedure. Below are the contraindications for open access endoscopy.
Contraindications for open access endoscopy: 
• Age – patients > 80 years old or < 18 years old
• Body Mass Index – BMI > 35 (morbid obesity)
• Cardiovascular – recent myocardial infarct (within 6 months), unstable angina, atrial fibrillation and other arrhythmias, pacemakers, drug eluting stents within 12 months, bare metal stents within 6 months
• Endocrinology – insulin dependent diabetes, uncontrolled thyroid dysfunction
• Gastrointestinal – recent abdominal surgery, within 6 weeks of an episode of acute diverticulitis, active Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• Liver Disease – cirrhosis (ascites, encephalopathy, jaundice, gastrointestinal bleeding)
• Neurological – recent CVA or TIAs, epilepsy, dementia or mental retardation
• Pregnancy – all pregnant patients should have consultation prior to endoscopy
• Psychiatry – any major psychiatric disorders
• Respiratory – COPD, asthma, obstructed upper airway or sleep apnoea
• Renal – dialysis, chronic kidney impairment
BOOK IN FOR CONSULTATION AND ENDOSCOPIC PROCEDURE (GASTROSCOPY +/- COLONOSCOPY) NOW. PLEASE REFER TO PATIENT BOOKING OR GP REFERRAL FOR BOOKING DETAILS.
OPEN ACCESS ENDOSCOPY FORM
Please read above on who should access this service. Only patients who are otherwise fit and healthy under the age of 80 should access this service. All other patients should have a consultation prior to gastroscopy or colonoscopy. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 72 hours, please contact us on 1300 168 178.
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Thank you. You have successfully submitted your request for open endoscopy. We will assess your suitability and contact you regarding bowel preparation advice and appointment time.
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