Concierge upper GI endoscopy · London
Gastroscopy (OGD), day-case upper GI endoscopy — the first-line test for dysphagia, dyspepsia and anaemia.
Reflux that won’t quit on PPIs, food sticking on the way down, iron‑deficiency anaemia with no obvious cause — this is the test that ends the guesswork. You’ll be in and out of a JAG‑accredited London day unit before lunch, with H. pylori and coeliac biopsies taken as standard and results back within the week.
Why patients choose us
- 01
The right hands
We route you to a consultant upper GI endoscopist — the person who performs the OGD, takes the biopsies and reports it decides the answer.
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Often answers same-day
Findings are usually discussed immediately after the procedure, with the written report and biopsy result to follow.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Key facts
Gastroscopy at a glance.
The essentials of an OGD in six lines — what it is, what it needs, what it delivers.
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The definitive test for reflux, dysphagia and unexplained anaemia
A day‑case scope in a JAG‑accredited London unit — the one investigation that can see, biopsy and treat in a single visit.
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Fast 6 hours
Nil by mouth for 6 hours before, sips of clear water up to 2 hours before — an empty stomach is what makes the view clear and the sedation safe.
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Sedation
Throat spray or conscious sedation — your choice, discussed on the day.
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Duration
A 10-15 minute procedure, from scope in to scope out.
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Biopsy
Samples taken for H. pylori, coeliac disease and Barrett’s surveillance.
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Day-case
Same-day walk-in / walk-out — no overnight stay.
The problem
A gastroscopy is only as good as who performs and reports it.
The mucosal view and the biopsy targeting are the answer — and the endoscopist decides how those findings translate into a diagnosis and a plan. We route you to a JAG-accredited consultant, not a generalist.
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Persistent dyspepsia or reflux?
We arrange a diagnostic OGD with biopsies and route findings to a gastroenterologist.
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Dysphagia or weight loss?
Urgent OGD with 2-week-wait pathway if a suspicious lesion is found.
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Iron deficiency anaemia?
We combine OGD with colonoscopy and coeliac serology as a single work-up.
Preparation
From consultation to report — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to report — often within days.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Consultation and 6-hour fast
Phase 2 · On the day
10-15 minutes, plus recovery
Phase 3 · After
Report and follow-up plan
- 01
Before
Consultation
Short pre-procedure review — symptoms, medications, blood thinners, allergies and sedation preference.
- 02
Before
Fast 6 hours
Nil by mouth for 6 hours before the appointment. Sips of clear water up to 2 hours before.
- 03
On the day
Sedation or throat spray
Local anaesthetic throat spray keeps you awake; conscious sedation (midazolam ± fentanyl) if you prefer to sleep through it.
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On the day
Left lateral position
You lie on your left side with a mouthguard in place — the position that best opens the upper GI tract.
- 05
On the day
Endoscope inserted trans-orally
A slim, flexible endoscope is passed through the mouth to the oesophagus, stomach and duodenum.
- 06
On the day
Biopsy or therapy as needed
Painless targeted biopsies, polyp removal, dilatation or haemostasis performed in the same sitting if indicated.
- 07
After
Same-day report and follow-up plan
Verbal findings on the day, written report within 24-48 hours, histology in 5-10 days with a concrete next step.
Typical end-to-end: 3–7 days. Urgent cases: same day.
What it shows
When a gastroscopy is the right test.
OGD answers a specific set of questions — what does the upper GI lining look like, and what do the biopsies show. These are the presentations we see most.
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Reflux oesophagitis / Barrett’s / hiatus hernia
Grades reflux damage, identifies Barrett’s metaplasia and defines hiatus hernia anatomy.
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Peptic ulcer disease
Diagnoses gastric and duodenal ulcers, characterises bleeding risk and treats it in the same sitting.
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H. pylori sample
CLO / rapid urease test and histology from antral and body biopsies.
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Coeliac disease (duodenal biopsy)
Duodenal D2 biopsies — the diagnostic standard for coeliac disease alongside serology.
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Eosinophilic oesophagitis
Oesophageal biopsies from proximal and distal segments to detect and grade EoE.
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Gastric cancer
Direct visualisation and targeted biopsy of suspicious mucosal or submucosal lesions.
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Duodenal Crohn’s / lymphoma
Identifies upper GI Crohn’s involvement and duodenal / MALT lymphoma with targeted sampling.
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Red flag: suspicious mass — 2-week-wait upper GI pathway
Any suspicious mass triggers immediate referral to the 2-week-wait upper GI cancer pathway.
Next steps
What happens after the OGD.
The concrete treatment or surveillance options that follow common gastroscopy findings.
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PPI trial for reflux
Proton pump inhibitor at standard or double dose, with a defined review point rather than open-ended prescribing.
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Triple-therapy for H. pylori
One-week PPI plus two antibiotics, with post-treatment confirmation of eradication.
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Gluten-free diet for coeliac
Lifelong gluten exclusion with dietitian input and serology follow-up.
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Endoscopic band ligation for varices
Rubber-band ligation of oesophageal varices for primary or secondary bleed prevention.
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Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR)
En-bloc or piecemeal resection of dysplastic Barrett’s and early mucosal cancers.
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Endoscopic anti-reflux (TIF)
Transoral incisionless fundoplication — a minimally invasive anti-reflux option for selected patients.
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Anti-reflux surgery
Laparoscopic Nissen or Toupet fundoplication where medical and endoscopic options are insufficient.
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Structured surveillance
Interval OGD with Seattle-protocol biopsies for Barrett’s, or targeted surveillance for known pre-malignant lesions.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of clinics, we picked them.
Partners across central, north, west and south London. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic in our network.
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Consultant upper GI endoscopists with JAG accreditation
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Standardised reporting (Prague / Los Angeles / Forrest classifications)
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Same-day verbal report, with images and histology to follow
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Onward upper GI MDT or hepatobiliary surgery pathway if significant disease is found
Safety and eligibility
One of the safest diagnostic procedures in medicine.
Gastroscopy is exceptionally safe — the practical points are the 6-hour fast, whether you choose sedation, and how to recognise the rare complications.
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Painless with sedation
Conscious sedation makes the procedure comfortable; most patients have little or no memory of it.
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Throat spray option
A local anaesthetic spray numbs the throat so you stay awake and can drive home the same day.
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Fast 6 hours
Nil by mouth for 6 hours before, with sips of clear water up to 2 hours before.
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Bring an escort if sedated
Sedation means no driving or operating machinery for 24 hours — bring someone to take you home.
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Bleeding is a medical emergency
Vomiting blood, black tarry stools or collapse after OGD needs A&E, not a private call-back.
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Sore throat is normal
A mildly sore throat and bloating for a few hours afterwards is expected and self-limiting.
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Perforation is rare
Perforation risk is well under 1 in 1,000 for diagnostic OGD, higher with therapeutic procedures.
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Biopsy is safe on blood thinners
Most diagnostic biopsies are safe on aspirin; DOACs and warfarin need a plan, so tell us in advance.
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Bring prior endoscopy and histology
Comparison against previous scopes and biopsies materially sharpens the report and surveillance plan.
Red flags — urgent review
These findings or symptoms need urgent gastroenterology input — do not wait for a routine slot.
- Suspicious mass on endoscopy
- Iron deficiency anaemia
- Unintentional weight loss
- Persistent dysphagia
- Barrett’s oesophagus with dysplasia
- Refractory GORD despite PPI
- Bleeding oesophageal varices
- Peptic ulcer with active bleeding
- Gastric outlet obstruction
Reading your report
A gastroscopy report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whatever the finding, the report keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
The report is written for your doctor, not for you — and that’s normal.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and preparation
Your details, the reason for the OGD, sedation used and adequacy of the mucosal view.
- 02 Technique
Scope, sedation and extent of exam
Which scope, which sedation, and how far the endoscope reached — D2 duodenum in a complete examination.
- 03 Findings
Oesophagus, stomach, duodenum, biopsies
Segment-by-segment description with Prague, LA-grade or Forrest classifications and biopsy sites.
- 04 Impression
The conclusion: read this first
Normal, benign, or a concrete diagnosis with the next step — read this first.
Sources
The guidelines this page draws on.
Published: 2026-07-30. Last reviewed: 2026-07-30. Next review: 2027-07-30. Reading time: 5 minutes.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover depends on your policy and clinic; we confirm with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about gastroscopy.
Quick answers on fasting, sedation, comfort, turnaround and when A&E is the right route.
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How soon can I get a private gastroscopy in London?
Most patients are booked into a JAG‑accredited London day unit within a week — sooner if there’s difficulty swallowing, weight loss or iron‑deficiency anaemia. The scope itself is 10–15 minutes; with sedation and recovery, plan on a morning at the clinic.
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Is a gastroscopy painful?
With conscious sedation most patients have little or no memory of the procedure. With throat spray alone you are awake and it is uncomfortable rather than painful — the throat spray numbs the gag reflex and the scope itself is slim.
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How long does a gastroscopy take?
The procedure itself takes 10-15 minutes. With check-in, sedation, recovery and discharge, expect to be at the clinic for around 2-3 hours in total.
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Do I need to fast before a gastroscopy?
Yes — nil by mouth for 6 hours before the procedure, with sips of clear water permitted up to 2 hours before. An empty stomach is essential for a clear view and for safe sedation.
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How quickly will I get my results?
Verbal findings are shared immediately after the procedure. The written endoscopy report is usually available within 24-48 hours; biopsy histology takes 5-10 working days.
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When should I go to A&E instead?
Vomiting blood, passing black tarry stools, sudden severe abdominal or chest pain, or collapse are medical emergencies — call 999 or attend A&E rather than waiting for a private slot.
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In practice, in London
What gastroscopy looks like on the ground in London
With gastroscopy, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it — not whether the scan is available. Waiting lists on the NHS for gastroscopy vary widely by borough and by how the GP letter reads. Privately in London, we can normally offer a slot inside the same week, sometimes within 48 hours if there’s a cancellation. The difference isn’t clinical quality — the consultants are frequently the same faces you’d see on the NHS — it’s the calendar.
A typical private booking for gastroscopy in London starts with a consultant conversation — sometimes in person on Harley Street or Marylebone, sometimes on video if that suits better. Any imaging or diagnostics happen at a nearby CQC-registered facility, and reports usually land within 24 to 72 hours. The whole loop, from first call to written report, is often done inside a fortnight. For gastroscopy specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
Where a good concierge earns its keep is in the matching. There are dozens of consultants in London who see gastroscopy — but not all of them are the right fit for every case. We narrow it down based on subspecialty, insurer coverage, the specific question being asked, and whether continuity into treatment matters. The right first appointment saves you from repeating yourself later.