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Private capsule endoscopy in London, read by a consultant gastroenterologist.

A pill-sized camera you swallow that takes thousands of images of the small bowel - reaching where OGD and colonoscopy cannot. Read by a consultant gastroenterologist.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What a private capsule endoscopy costs in London.

Indicative ranges across UK private providers.

In short

£1,800-£2,800, with a consultant report in 5-7 days.

Procedure Indicative range
Small-bowel capsule endoscopy £1,800–£2,800
Colon capsule endoscopy £1,600–£2,600
PillCam Crohn’s protocol £2,000–£3,000
Wireless motility capsule (Bravo) £1,200–£2,200
Second-opinion capsule read £600–£1,100
Paediatric capsule endoscopy Quoted case by case

Prices vary by capsule type, whether a patency capsule is needed first, and the reading unit.

The problem

OGD and colonoscopy were normal - but the bleeding hasn’t stopped.

The small bowel is the largest, least-examined part of the gut. When standard scopes come back clean and symptoms continue, capsule endoscopy is usually the next answer.

  • Both scopes were negative

    Iron deficiency, ongoing bleeding, or unexplained weight loss with a clean OGD and colonoscopy - the small bowel is next.

  • Suspected small-bowel Crohn’s

    Standard scopes only see the ends. A capsule sees the middle - where much of Crohn’s lives.

  • Not sure it is the right test

    Sometimes an MR enterography or CT is a better first look. Your consultant can advise which.

What it shows

Find the reason that matches your symptom.

A capsule study answers questions no other test can - the small bowel is otherwise out of reach. These are the reasons people have this test.

  • Obscure GI bleeding

    When OGD and colonoscopy are negative but bleeding continues, capsule is the next step.

  • Iron-deficiency anaemia

    For unexplained iron-deficiency anaemia once upper and lower endoscopy are negative.

  • Crohn’s disease of the small bowel

    Detects skip lesions, ulcers and strictures the standard scopes miss.

  • Coeliac disease follow-up

    Assesses extent and complications where symptoms persist on a gluten-free diet.

  • Motility disorders

    Wireless motility capsule measures gastric emptying and whole-gut transit.

  • Mid-gut lesions

    Small-bowel tumours, angiodysplasia and Meckel’s that other tests cannot see.

  • When standard endoscopy is not tolerated

    A well-tolerated alternative when repeat sedation is best avoided.

  • Red flag: suspected obstruction

    Do NOT use capsule if obstruction is suspected.

Capsule types

Not all capsule studies are the same.

What each option on your referral is actually for.

  • Small-bowel capsule

    The standard capsule study - thousands of images across the length of the small bowel.

  • Colon capsule

    An alternative to colonoscopy in selected cases where colonoscopy is incomplete or declined.

  • Crohn’s protocol capsule

    A dedicated PillCam protocol for suspected or established small-bowel Crohn’s.

  • Wireless motility capsule

    Measures pressure, pH and transit through the whole gut - for gastroparesis and constipation workup.

  • Paediatric capsule

    Small-bowel capsule in older children, sometimes placed endoscopically if swallowing is difficult.

  • Combined small-bowel + colon capsule

    A single-day pan-enteric study when both territories need looking at.

  • Repeat / surveillance capsule

    A repeat study to monitor known small-bowel Crohn’s, polyposis or angiodysplasia.

  • Post-bleeding follow-up

    A directed re-look after an acute GI bleed episode with negative endoscopy.

Safety and eligibility

Very safe - but obstruction is the one thing to screen.

The single rule: never send a capsule where the bowel might be blocked. Everything else is planning.

  • Not for suspected obstruction

    A capsule can lodge in a stricture. If obstruction is suspected on symptoms or imaging, capsule is contraindicated.

  • Patency capsule pre-test

    A dissolvable dummy capsule can be swallowed first to confirm the bowel is patent - a small step that avoids a big problem.

  • Fasting from midnight

    Nothing to eat after midnight before the study. Small sips of water are allowed until you arrive.

  • Liquid diet the day before

    A clear-liquid diet the day before helps the capsule get a clean, uninterrupted view.

  • Avoid strong magnets

    No MRI, no strong industrial magnets during the recording. The capsule and the sensors do not mix with them.

  • Rare capsule retention

    Retention is rare (well under 1%) but can occasionally need endoscopic retrieval or, exceptionally, surgery.

  • How you swallow it

    You swallow the capsule with water - it is the size of a large vitamin. Most people find this the easy part.

  • Passing the capsule

    It normally passes in a bowel motion within 24-72 hours. You do not need to retrieve it.

Reading your report

A capsule report can look intimidating. It isn’t.

However much of the gut was seen, the report keeps to the same four parts.

A London consultant gastroenterologist reviewing capsule endoscopy images

A quiet reminder

The impression is the important line - read it first.

If anything in the report is unclear, ask your specialist or GP to talk you through it at your follow-up.

  1. 01 Header

    Your details and the indication

    Your details, the clinical question, and what the capsule was asked to look for.

  2. 02 Technique

    Capsule type and transit

    Which capsule was used, transit time, whether the whole small bowel was seen, and whether retention risk was considered and mitigated.

  3. 03 Findings

    What the reader saw

    The small bowel divided into thirds (proximal, mid, distal), with any lesions, ulcers, angioectasias or bleeding described. The colon is included if applicable.

  4. 04 Impression

    The conclusion: read this first

    Read this first - normal, a source of bleeding, Crohn’s, coeliac features, or a motility disorder, with the next recommended step.

Recognised by major UK insurers

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Frequently asked

Common questions about capsule endoscopy.

Quick answers on cost, safety, retention, pacemakers and results.

  • What does a capsule endoscopy actually show?

    It gives thousands of images of the small bowel - the long section of gut between the stomach and the colon that OGD and colonoscopy cannot reach. It is the definitive test for obscure small-bowel bleeding, unexplained iron-deficiency anaemia after negative scopes, and small-bowel Crohn’s. A colon capsule or motility capsule answers different questions.

  • How is it different from an OGD or colonoscopy?

    An OGD looks at the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum. A colonoscopy looks at the colon. Both leave out roughly 20 feet of small bowel in the middle. Capsule endoscopy is the tool for that middle territory. It does not replace either standard scope - it complements them.

  • How much does a private capsule endoscopy cost in London?

    Colon capsule is £1,600-£2,600, and a wireless motility capsule (Bravo) is £1,200-£2,200. A consultant second-opinion read on an existing study is £600-£1,100.

  • Do I need a referral?

    A capsule study is arranged after a short consultation with a gastroenterologist so the right protocol is chosen and obstruction risk is screened out.

  • How safe is it - what about obstruction?

    It is very safe for most people, but a capsule can lodge in a narrowed segment of bowel. If obstruction is actively suspected, capsule is not used.

  • What happens if the capsule gets stuck?

    Retention is rare - well under 1% in unselected cases. Most retained capsules pass with a short course of steroids or come out at a subsequent endoscopy. Very occasionally, a surgical retrieval is needed, usually at the same time as treating the underlying stricture.

  • Can I have a capsule study with a pacemaker or ICD?

    Modern capsule endoscopes are generally safe alongside pacemakers and implantable defibrillators, and both can be monitored during the study.

  • Is capsule endoscopy safe in pregnancy?

    It is usually deferred in pregnancy unless essential. If it is essential - for example, ongoing obscure bleeding - it is arranged in a specialist unit with obstetric input.

  • How long until I get the results?

    The recorder is returned the same evening or the next morning. A consultant gastroenterologist reads the study over the following days, and the report - with next steps - is with you inside 5-7 days.

  • When should I see a GP instead?

    If you have not yet had an OGD or colonoscopy, or have not had recent blood tests, start with a GP or a gastroenterology consultation. Capsule is a specialist next step - it belongs after the standard scopes, not before them, unless there is a specific reason.

Related content

Looking for something different?

In practice, in London

Why private capsule endoscopy moves differently in London

With capsule endoscopy, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it - not whether the scan is available. Public provision for capsule endoscopy is competent but constrained by capacity. Private London clinics tend to have shorter diaries and longer appointment slots, so you get the same specialists with more time. For people who’ve been going round in circles with primary care, that first proper conversation is often what shifts things.

A private capsule endoscopy pathway in London usually looks like this: an initial consultation, any diagnostics booked at a nearby facility (most within Zone 1 or 2), and a written report sent to you and your GP within a few days. For capsule endoscopy specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.

There are dozens of consultants in London who see capsule endoscopy - but not all of them are the right fit for every case. The right first appointment saves you from repeating yourself later.