NHS Western Isles to invest in new Endoscopy Reporting System

NHS Western Isles has approved investment in a new Endoscopy Reporting System (ERS) that will modernise how endoscopy procedures are recorded, reported and managed across the organisation.

The decision follows the approval of a business case by the Corporate Management Team and will see NHS Western Isles move to a modern cloud-hosted system already used by NHS Highland. The new system will replace the existing reporting platform, which is reaching the end of its supported lifespan.

Endoscopy services play a vital role in diagnosing and monitoring a range of conditions affecting the digestive and respiratory systems. The new system will support gastrointestinal, respiratory and urology procedures, providing clinicians with improved reporting tools, image capture capabilities and enhanced access to clinical information.

It will also improve the quality and availability of data, reduce reliance on manual processes and support integration with national systems used for performance monitoring, training and quality assurance.

NHS Western Isles Associate Director of Clinical Support Services and Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Kristian Stone, said: “This investment is an important step in ensuring our endoscopy service has the digital infrastructure it needs to support high-quality patient care now and into the future.

“The new system will provide a more reliable and resilient platform for our clinical teams while reducing manual processes and improving the availability of information to support patient care, quality improvement and service planning.

“Working with NHS Highland also allows us to align with a neighbouring Board and benefit from a proven solution that is already supporting endoscopy services elsewhere in Scotland."

The new system is expected to improve efficiency for clinical and administrative staff, enhance patient safety by reducing the risk of transcription errors, and support future service developments. It will also help ensure NHS Western Isles remains aligned with national digital health ambitions and evolving endoscopy standards.

Implementation planning is now underway, with the new system expected to be introduced during 2026 following the necessary technical and operational preparations.