The urology department diagnoses and treats a comprehensive range of general urological disorders such as kidney stones, lower urinary tract symptoms (male and female) and andrology.
The SASH urology department is a designated cancer unit within the Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire (SWSH) Cancer Network, treating the full range of malignancies of prostate, bladder, kidney and testis. Around 6,800 adult outpatients are seen every year and the service covers all adults within the trust’s geographical area.
Routine paediatric urology is managed by the paediatric surgeons at SASH or at St George’s Hospital, Tooting.
Urological diagnostics and operative procedures are carried out predominately at East Surrey Hospital and day case procedures take place at Crawley Hospital Day Surgery Unit.
The team uses the latest technology, such as ‘photo-dynamic diagnosis’ (blue-light cystoscopy), which is used to allow enhanced diagnosis of high-grade bladder cancer. Flexible cystoscopy is carried out under local anaesthetic in East Surrey Hospital’s Endoscopy Suite.
The Urology ward at East Surrey Hospital is the primary unit for inpatient emergency admissions. Patients arriving from the Emergency Department are either transferred to the Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU) or directly to Buckland Ward. Care is provided by a consultant and a team of doctors, who conduct ward rounds every morning, usually starting at 08:30.
A team of nurses will be on each shift, and they will introduce themselves and wear ID badges. If patients or relatives have any questions or concerns, they are encouraged to speak to the nurse-in-charge. The direct contact number for the ward is 01737 231654.
General urology clinics are held daily either at East Surrey Hospital, Crawley Hospital, Caterham Dene Hospital, Horsham Hospital, Dorking Hospital and Oxted Health Centre.
GPs can refer patients to the urology clinics either via the Choose and Book System or sending a referral letter direct to the consultants.
The urology team is part of the Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire (SWSH) Cancer Network and consultant Michael Swinn is the multi-disciplinary team lead. The MDT meets on Thursday mornings to discuss all new patients with suspected urological cancer. The case history, pathology and imaging are discussed for each patient and Dr Julian Money-Kyrle, a consultant oncologist from Royal Surrey Hospital, Guildford, provides oncological input including providing chemotherapy and radiotherapy.