Urology

• General Urology Clinics

  What to expect
  These General Urology Clinics are designed to act as one-stop appointments to allow early diagnosis and prompt treatment wherever possible. Due to the nature of our one-stop service, you may undergo several tests during your first visit.

  Some of the investigations are invasive and you may not feel able to drive home afterward. Please bear this in mind and make alternative travel arrangements where possible.

  Please note: you will need to bring a fresh urine sample with you, for the appropriate container please ask your GP.
  In addition, if you are required to provide a urine test on the day you will be informed at the department. Please wait to pass urine at the department until you have been advised either way by a nurse.
   

  Wrightington Hospital Clinics
  A small number of new patient appointments are offered in the evening at Wrightington Hospital Outpatients department.

  These appointments are for patients who live closer to Wrightington, or who find an evening appointment preferable.
  Please note however, only initial appointments will be at Wrightington with further investigations, follow-up and surgery taking place at the appropriate site.

• Follow-Up Clinics
  Follow-up Out Patient clinics are held for all Consultants in both The Richmond Urology Unit at Leigh Infirmary, and also at the Thomas Linacre Centre in Wigan.
• Rapid Access Suspected Cancer Clinics

  Patients in these Rapid Access Suspected Cancer Clinics are usually referred with either suspected Prostate or Testicular Cancer. Your GP should inform you if he/she refers you to this service specifically to diagnose/exclude Urological Cancer. All of these clinics are held in the Richmond Urology Unit at Leigh Infirmary.

  What to expect

  • If you are referred with suspected prostate cancer, a prostate biopsy may be offered
  • If you drive, you will need to make alternative travel arrangements, as you cannot drive after this procedure

   After any prostate biopsy you will be offered an appointment to be informed of your results and to discuss them in further detail. This appointment is usually 7-10 days after the procedure.

• Erectile Dysfunction Clinics

  This clinic is available for men who find it difficult to gain or maintain and erection sufficient for sexual intercourse.
  The clinic is run by Specialist Urology Nurses and is held in The Richmond Urology Unit at Leigh Infirmary.

  What to expect

  • A history relating to the problem will be taken
  • A number of blood tests will be performed
  • Treatment options will be discussed to include the effectiveness of different treatments specific to your needs
  • Your GP will be informed of your chosen treatment and will provide you with necessary prescriptions
• Haematuria Clinics

  You will visit this clinic when blood has been found in your urine. You may have discovered this blood yourself, or it may have been found when your urine has been tested.

  There are a variety of possible causes, and many patients will have no definite cause identified. Please bring a urine sample with you.

  Haematuria clinics are carried out by a Specialist Nurse in the Richmond Urology Unit at Leigh Infirmary.

  What to expect

  • You will be seen by one of our Specialist Nurses in the Richmond Urology Unit at Leigh Infirmary
  • You will be asked a number of questions and receive an examination
  • You will undergo some blood and urine tests (please bring a urine sample with you)
  • You will have an inspection of your bladder under local anaesthetic (flexible cystoscopy). 
  • You will need some scans and/or x-rays of your kidneys – the type of scan will be dependent on factors specific to you
  • If you only need an ultra-sound scan you will usually be taken to the X-Ray Department as part of your appointment
  • If you need another appointment, you may be sent to Wigan or Leigh at a later date
• Paediatric Urology Clinics

  Paediatric Urology Clinics take place in the paediatric Out Patient department at the Thomas Linacre Centre in Wigan.
  If your child (aged between 2 and 16 years) has any of the following straight forward problems, they can usually see one of our specialist consultants, and any necessary procedures will be performed at Wigan Infirmary.

  • Hydrocele
  • Foreskin Problems
  • Absent Testes
• Prostate Assessment Clinic

  This clinic is for men with significant urinary symptoms. The Prostate Assessment Clinic for new patients will take place either at Leigh Infirmary or at the Thomas Linacre Centre in Wigan.

  What to expect

  • You will be asked to complete a symptom questionnaire and then discuss the answers in more detail with one of our Specialist Nurses
  • Your prostate will be examined
  • After counselling, a prostate blood test will be taken (if you agree)
  • You should attend the clinic with a full(ish) bladder in order to pass water into a measuring machine within the department
  • A treatment recommendation by our Specialist Nurses will often be made before you leave the clinic
  • You will receive a letter from the consultant in charge of your care, confirming treatment and follow-up plans
• Vasectomy Clinics

  Your GP can refer you to this clinic if you wish to undergo a Vasectomy (male sterilisation).

  If you wish to have a Vasectomy under local anaesthetic, you will be given an appointment for our one-stop Vasectomy Clinic, which takes place at the Richmond Urology Unit.

  It is important that you read everything that we send to you before the appointment; it will contain vital information about the clinic and the procedure.

  What to expect

  • You will be counselled and examined, and if suitable, giving some time to confirm your decision before the procedure (this time is usually around 30-60 minutes)
  • You can expect to be in the department for around 2 hours
  • You will not be able to drive after the procedure so, where necessary, please arrange alternative transport
  • You will be asked to provide two semen samples for analysis about four months after the procedure to confirm your sterility
  • You should continue to use your usual method of contraception after the procedure until you receive confirmation of results

  Please note: Vasectomy procedures are not immediately effective in providing contraception.

• Contact Us

  Richmond Urology Unit
  First Floor Hanover Diagnostic and Treatment Centre
  Leigh Infirmary
  The Avenue
  Leigh
  WN7 1HS

  For further information about our services (but not individual patient queries) please contact:
  Urologyenquiries@wwl.nhs.uk

 All leaflets associated with this service are available here