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Direct Access Colonoscopy is sometimes recommended by your GP if you are reasonably fit and healthy and meet the below criteria:

  • A family history of bowel cancer.
  • A persistant change in bowel function.
  • Positive Faecal Occult Blood Test.
  • Rectal bleeding.
  • A personal history of bowel polyps or cancer.
  • Unexplained weight loss or abdominal pain

To be eligible you must be reasonably fit and health and:

  • 80 years old or less.
  • have normal kidney, lung and heart function
  • not be taking blood thinners

Direct access colonoscopy is also only available as a No-Gap procedure to those with private health insurance. If you do not have private health insurance then there will be an out of pocket payment which will need to be discussed before your procedure.

What is involved?

The whole procedure takes about 20-30 minutes, but the entire process including drop off, admission, procedure, recovery and pick up can take 3 hours or more. Colonoscopy requires a general anaesthetic, and therefore you must have somebody to drive you home from hospital after your procedure.

What are the risks?

There is a 1-2 per thousand risk of accidental perforation of the colonoscope during colonoscopy. If this happens, you will most likely require corrective surgery. Bloating, crampy abdominal pain is sometimes experience in the first hour after this procedure.

The general anaesthetic risks can be discussed with you by your anaesthetist prior to or on the day of your procedure, but include a very small risk of death (1 per 200,000). Nausea and vomiting after anaesthetics can occur.