New capsule sponge test offers quicker alternative to endoscopy across Wales

Patients across Wales are benefiting from a new test that can help identify conditions linked to oesophageal cancer without the need for a traditional endoscopy. The capsule sponge test is now being routinely offered in Wales following the success of a national project championed by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board Consultant Gastroenterologist Dr Hasan Haboubi.

Across Wales, patients with long-term acid reflux and conditions like Barrett’s oesophagus are now being routinely offered the capsule sponge test as an alternative to endoscopy. Barrett’s oesophagus is a condition that can develop in people with long-term acid reflux and can increase the risk of oesophageal cancer.

An endoscopy procedure involves a doctor inserting a long, flexible tube with a camera and light inside the body through the mouth and throat to visually examine organs and diagnose conditions. In a lot of cases the procedure requires sedation, which can be disruptive to a patient’s day and makes the process longer for healthcare professionals.

As the capsule sponge test does not require any sedation and can be carried out by nursing colleagues in around thirty minutes, it has been a much more efficient and convenient process for both patients and healthcare teams. The introduction has allowed colleagues to see a higher volume of patients, reducing endoscopy waiting times.

To help diagnose conditions such as oesophageal cancer more quickly and efficiently, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board have been key partners in the Celtic Capsule Project, a Wales-wide project to trial the national adoption of the EndoSign® capsule sponge test. The Health Board helped evaluate how the test could be safely and effectively introduced into routine care, supporting earlier detection of oesophageal disease and reducing the need for endoscopy where appropriate.

The capsule sponge test is a straightforward process; patients swallow a small capsule attached to a fine thread. Once in the stomach, the capsule dissolves and releases a small sponge. A healthcare professional then gently pulls the sponge back up through a patient’s throat, collecting cells which are sent away for testing.

“It has been a huge team effort” says Hasan, “Nurses, endoscopists, pathologists, primary care colleagues, and the team in Cambridge who developed the test have all played a huge part. My job has been to help connect the pieces, so the pathway is safe, equitable and sustainable in every part of Wales.”

“The scale of the problem is sobering. Around 9,400 people are diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in the UK each year, and far too many present too late for curative treatment. Catching Barrett’s oesophagus earlier gives us the chance to intervene long before cancer develops, and that is what this rollout is really about.”

Hasan and the team also run a dedicated clinic for patients experiencing reflux symptoms following a capsule sponge test. Through this service, patients can be reassured, receive advice on lifestyle changes and medication, and where appropriate be safely discharged without needing further investigation. This helps ensure patients receive the right care while reducing pressure on endoscopy services.

“We’re not at the finish line. There is still work to do to keep refining the pathway. But for patients across Wales who would otherwise have waited, or stayed away altogether, this is a quiet revolution in how we care for them, and I’m proud of what the team has built so far” Hasan said.