To Make an Appointment.

The office is open from 9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday. It is possible to arrange urgent consultations on most days. Please contact the Urology Practice appointments line on:

Tel: 020 7378 8531

Prior to your Visit.

You should arrange to have a letter of referral from your General Practitioner or specialist, sent (or faxed) to the urology practice prior to your appointment. Alternatively, you can bring the letter with you at the time of your appointment.

If you have private medical insurance, prior to attending a consultation or undertaking any treatment, we advise you to check the level, scope and referral requirements of your cover with your insurance company.

On your Arrival.

The practice is situated on the 4th floor of the Outpatients building, Emblem House. On arrival, please report to the reception desk on the ground floor of Emblem House.

On your first visit you will be asked to complete a registration form. Please take the time to complete this as fully and accurately as possible, particularly the sections relating to your GP details as we will keep your GP informed at all stages of your treatment, unless you specifically withhold permission for such correspondence.

Your account will be sent to you after your consultation unless you wish to settle on the day. All major credit cards are accepted along with personal cheques.

Assessment and Treatment.

The consultant urologist will take a full medical history and undertake a physical examination in order to determine the best course of treatment. You may then be referred for blood and urine tests and possibly radiology. These tests are carried out in the outpatients department in London Bridge Hospital and appointments can normally be arranged for later the same day if required.

The Urologists work closely with a team of specialist urological radiologists who have expertise in ultrasound, CT, MRI, renal nuclear medicine and interventional radiology.

If prostate cancer is suspected, you may also need a biopsy at some time after your appointment. A needle is inserted through a probe into the rectum to collect tiny samples of prostate tissue. There is some discomfort, but this is reduced with a local anaesthetic. Patients are given a short course of antibiotics to minimise the risk of infection.

If the results of the biopsy are positive, a bone scan may be necessary. This can be performed in the Hospital's X-Ray department. Following an injection in the arm, a whole body scan is performed three hours later.

An MRI or CT scan can also be undertaken to determine whether tumours have formed in other tissues in the pelvis and your consultant will discuss these tests with you in more detail.

Follow up Consultation.

The results of the tests are normally available within 24-72 hours and all patients are invited for a follow-up consultation to discuss any necessary treatment or procedure.

Urological Surgery

If it is necessary for you to undergo a procedure, this will be arranged as quickly as possible. Procedures can often be carried out within a week, or even the same day for a minor procedure. The hospital is fully equipped with the latest surgical and medical technology, so all surgical procedures and treatment can be conveniently carried out in one location.

A dedicated team of nurses, many of whom have specialist training in urological surgery, support the consultant urologists, and they are committed to your care during your stay at London Bridge Hospital. A range of support services are also available including specialist care for incontinence problems and stoma care. Quick diagnosis of urinary retention problems is possible as the ward has a bladder scanner.

At London Bridge Hospital there are full intensive care facilities and high dependency post-operative recovery. Therefore the whole range of complex urological surgery can be carried out at London Bridge Hospital.

Finance Arrangements

As before, if you have private medical insurance, we advise you to check the level, scope and referral requirements of your cover with your insurance company before undergoing any procedure.

For patients paying for their own treatment, details of the consultant and anaesthetist's fee for surgical procedures are available on request from the urology practice manager.

In addition, hospital fees will be charged and the practice manager will be able to give you an indication of the cost of your procedure. A range of package prices are available. If you would like further information on urology package prices, or have any queries on the hospital fees, please contact the Patient Accounts Department or telephone 020 7407 3100 between 9am and 4pm.