JAG is unable to advise services whether they can deviate from guidelines in this way.
Services should contact their trust, health board or organisation legal team to risk assess and provide guidance approved at a local level.
JAG believes that patient and staff safety are paramount and understands that this may override normal practice in the current circumstances, when there is no significant risk.
Regardless of any change in practice decided by the service, all reasonable steps should be taken to provide the patient with information to allow them to take an informed decision beforehand. Each case may require different steps and the decision about whether consent has been obtained appropriately lies with the responsible endoscopist.
A service’s accreditation would not be affected if the service has decided to deviate from common practice based on the above steps being taken.