Waitematā Endoscopy celebrates 16 years of service

The Waitematā Endoscopy team is proud to celebrate its milestone of serving the Waitemata community for 16 years.  Clinical Director Dr Ali Jafer says the private endoscopy clinics aim to deliver not only an international standard of excellence in endoscopy services to the community but also peace of mind through working very hard to reduce patient waiting times.

Endoscopy is a way of looking inside the gut using a thin tube with a camera that is minimally invasive for patients. Commonly referred to as a “top and tail,” the “top” is a Gastroscopy, when the tube or scope is inserted through the mouth. The “tail” is a Colonoscopy, where the scope is to get a good look at the colon or large bowel.

For bowel health, endoscopy is an integral part of early diagnosis and treatment as bowel cancer is the second highest cause of cancer deaths in New Zealand.  However, if detected early enough, bowel cancer is preventable and treatable.

The clinics provide people with upper gastrointestinal issues, reflux, coeliac disease, colon/bowel cancer and irritable bowel disease, access to a highly experienced team of 16 gastroenterologists and surgeons, supported by a kind and compassionate nursing team. 

Staring at its North Shore location in Wairau Valley 16 years ago, a second purpose-built clinic on Lincoln Rd, Henderson, was opened in 2020 to better serve the West Auckland community.  With the addition of another state-of-the-art endoscopy room last year at its Henderson clinic, this essentially doubles the capacity for patients to be treated in West Auckland.  Thus Waitemata Endoscopy is now able to offer a confirmed appointment for most standard Colonoscopy and Gastroscopy procedures within 7 days of a referral by matching patients with the availability of our experienced Specialists*. Feedback from patients is that this has significantly reduced waiting time, providing peace of mind and certainty to plan ahead and come prepared.

With a modern and welcoming environment, including the latest technology and patient recovery areas, patients can now access timely and exceptional quality endoscopy much closer to home when they need it.

How do I get an appointment?

If you have health insurance, a referral is usually required. Waitematā Endoscopy is an affiliated provider with Southern Cross Health Society and can also apply for prior approval with NIB on your behalf.  We also provide quotes for other insurers, or if you would like to self-fund, you can self-refer via our website and we can provide an estimate. 

*For more details and full terms and conditions, see our website www.waitemataendoscopy.co.nz/appointments/