PHS FOI 2026-002361

Request

“The total number of scheduled lower-GI endoscopy appointments, specifically:
1. Colonoscopy
2. Flexible sigmoidoscopy
3. Any other lower-GI endoscopy scope types routinely recorded (please specify)

Of those scheduled appointments, the number that were:
1. Cancelled (including cancellations on the day of procedure) where the recorded reason was inadequate/poor bowel preparation (or equivalent terms such as “patient not adequately prepared” / “insufficient bowel prep” / “failed prep”).
2. Abandoned/incomplete after starting (i.e., procedure commenced but could not be completed) where the recorded reason was inadequate/poor bowel preparation (or equivalent).

Where possible, please provide the figures broken down by NHS Board, and separately identify:
1. Screening (e.g., bowel screening programme) vs symptomatic/other referral pathways, if this distinction is held in the dataset(s).

Please provide the definition(s), coding(s), or reason categories used to identify “poor/inadequate bowel preparation” and any relevant data dictionary notes.

Please confirm the source dataset(s) used to compile the response (e.g., national dataset name, extracts from local systems, etc.), and whether the figures represent:
1. Appointments cancelled prior to attendance, cancellations on the day, and/or did-not-attend events (please specify which are included), and

Procedures recorded as incomplete/abandoned due to bowel prep.”