Purpose
To ensure patients recover and are discharged safely with available information about the outcomes of the colonoscopy and arrangements for follow-up.
The Commission is now operating in accordance with the Caretaker ConventionsExternal link pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.
To ensure patients recover and are discharged safely with available information about the outcomes of the colonoscopy and arrangements for follow-up.
To optimise detection and management of disease, to minimise adverse outcomes for all patients who undergo colonoscopy, and to ensure the colonoscopy is documented adequately in the patient’s health record.
To ensure all colonoscopies and associated sedation and clinical care are provided by skilled clinicians at a high level of safety and quality.
To ensure the safe and appropriate sedation of patients undergoing colonoscopy.
To ensure that patients who present for colonoscopy have a clear bowel that enables a thorough examination.
To ensure that each patient is provided with adequate information and time to consider the risks and benefits of colonoscopy before providing informed consent and before starting bowel preparation or any other aspect of the procedure.
To ensure colonoscopy is offered to patients who are most likely to benefit from the procedure and within a timeframe concordant with their risk, in a manner consistent with current national evidence-based guidelines.
To ensure that communication of information from referring clinicians to colonoscopy clinics and specialists enables the timely and accurate assessment of patients according to clinical urgency and appropriateness.
This resource provides guidance on the information a specialist should provide in the follow-up letter to a GP (and patient) when reporting a patient's colonoscopy results.
A colonoscopy report template suitable for use when reporting the results of a patient's colonoscopy to patients, referring GPs and other clinicians.