Staff at Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre, St Mary’s Portsmouth are celebrating national recognition for their continued commitment to delivering high standards of patient care and safety after successfully renewing their prestigious JAG accreditation.
“We are incredibly proud to have maintained JAG accreditation for 15 consecutive years. This achievement reflects the dedication, expertise and teamwork of every member of the endoscopy service. We remain committed to continuously improving the care and experience we provide to our patients.”
Kathy Lloyd, Hospital Director at Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre, St Mary’s Portsmouth
Following a recent annual review, the endoscopy service at the surgical centre has once again met all required standards set by the Joint Advisory Group (JAG), with accreditation now renewed through to May 2027.
This year’s accreditation is particularly significant as it marks 15 consecutive years of JAG accreditation – a major milestone that reflects the team’s longstanding commitment to delivering high-quality, safe and effective patient care.
JAG is the UK’s leading accreditation scheme for endoscopy services. It sets rigorous national standards across patient experience, clinical safety, workforce development, training, and leadership. The latest review confirms that the endoscopy service at Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre, St Mary’s Portsmouth continues to meet and exceed those standards.
What is an endoscopy?
An endoscopy is a procedure that uses a thin, flexible tube with a camera to examine the inside of the body, often the digestive system. It helps doctors investigate symptoms such as stomach pain, difficulty swallowing, or unexplained bleeding. Common types include gastroscopy (stomach) and colonoscopy (bowel). The procedure can also be used to take biopsies or treat certain conditions. It is usually carried out under sedation and takes less than an hour. Endoscopies are vital for diagnosing conditions early, guiding treatment, and offering reassurance when symptoms are present but the cause is unclear.
As part of its ongoing commitment to quality improvement and workforce development, the Portsmouth endoscopy team is also progressing through the JETS Workforce training programme introduced by JAG in October 2025.
While the national requirement is for at least 25% of healthcare professionals involved in the endoscopy pathway to complete the training, the team at St Mary’s Portsmouth is going significantly further, with 100% of registered nurses and healthcare assistants expected to complete the programme by the end of July 2026.
Kathy Lloyd, Hospital Director, Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre, St Mary’s Portsmouth, said:
“We are incredibly proud to have maintained JAG accreditation for 15 consecutive years. This achievement reflects the dedication, expertise and teamwork of every member of the endoscopy service. We remain committed to continuously improving the care and experience we provide to our patients.
“Maintaining this standard over such a sustained period is no small achievement. This accreditation demonstrates the passion, professionalism and commitment of our teams, and the trust that patients can place in our services.”
JAG accreditation is awarded for five years, subject to annual review, and the team looks forward to continuing to build on this success in the years ahead.
Practice Plus Group Surgical Centre, St Mary’s Portsmouth provides a range of NHS healthcare services for local patients, supporting faster access to high-quality treatment and diagnostic care.
