Urology in Bath

Urology is a specialist area of medicine involved with the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of problems in the male and female urinary tract and of the male reproductive system. A doctor who specialises in this field is a Consultant Urological Surgeon.

At Bath Clinic, we are privileged to have four highly experienced urologists working on-site who provide comprehensive investigation, diagnosis and treatment for people aged 18+. They would be delighted to help you access the most appropriate treatment for your needs, quickly.

Your urinary tract plays a crucial role in maintaining the health of your body.  It is formed* by the:

• Kidneys - bean-shaped organs, located just below your ribs one either side of your spine. (Although each kidney is only about the size of a closed fist, the filtration surface area of the kidneys is roughly the size of a football field!)
• Ureters - the tubes connecting your kidneys to the bladder, allowing urine to move from the kidneys into the bladder.
• Bladder – a hollow, muscular organ that expands as it fills with urine.
• Urethra – located at the bottom of the bladder, this carries urine from the bladder to the outside of the body during urination.

*In men, the urinary tract also includes the:

• Prostate – a small gland located between the penis and bladder. The urethra passes through it. If the prostate becomes enlarged, it may place pressure on the bladder and/or urethra, which can cause problems with urination.
• Penis – the male sex organ
• Testicles – the male sex glands

Together, the separate parts of the urinary tract are responsible for filtering blood in order to remove waste products and excess fluid as urine. In men, the prostate, penis and testicles are part of the reproductive system, which is responsible for sexual function.

A problem in part of the urinary tract can cause a variety of symptoms, ranging in severity and impact on daily life. Due to the intimate nature of many urinary tract problems, people with symptoms will often put off seeing a doctor until their symptoms become much more severe. This means that diagnosis and treatment is delayed. For your peace of mind, we always advise seeking expert help at the earliest possible stage.

People visit the urologists at Bath Clinic for a variety of reasons. Some of the common symptoms or problems people want help with include:

• Urinary symptoms
• Blood in urine
• Recurrent urinary infections
• Difficulty urinating – hesitancy or weaker flow
• Urgency / needing to rush to the toilet
• Increased frequency of urination
• Leakage / incontinence
• Urinating more frequently at night (nocturia)
• Loin pain
• Stone disease
• Concerns around cancer of the kidney or bladder
• Lump or swelling found in the testes, penis or scrotum
• Penis / scrotal issues – including erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation or unusual curvature of the penis
• Concerns around prostate cancer (for example, a recent blood test may have shown a raised PSA level that requires further investigation, or you may have a family history of cancer which puts you at risk)
• Tight or painful foreskin

Many problems within the urinary tract are best treated when found at the earliest possible stage. If you have any of the symptoms described above, or are worried about any other symptoms, it is sensible to see an expert for assessment and advice. It may be found that there is nothing to worry about and no need for treatment. If any treatment is required, we can arrange this for you without delay.

Why not book your private urology appointment in Bath now?

Treatment for many urinary symptoms will often be non-surgical (conservative).

Some symptoms may be relieved by making simple lifestyle changes, like reducing the amount of caffeine or alcohol you drink.

Pelvic floor muscle exercise or bladder training will often help to manage incontinence, and our experienced on-site physiotherapy team will be able to help you with this.

Prescribed medication such as tablets or antibiotics can be effective at treating a number of conditions, such as recurrent UTIs, stress incontinence, erectile dysfunction or an enlarged prostate.

If conservative treatments are not able to relieve your symptoms, or are not effective, you may require surgery.

Surgery for urinary conditions is often with cystoscopy (both flexible cystoscopy and rigid cystoscopy can be carried out at Bath Clinic). A cystoscope is a thin tube with a camera. Passed through your urethra and into the bladder, it gives your urologist an excellent view of these internal structures, allowing them to look for any abnormalities, such as stones, growths or blockages.

Certain conditions can be treated at the same time as a cystoscopy by passing special surgical tools through the cystoscope. For example, small stones can be removed from the bladder, or a biopsy taken if required.

Many types of procedures within the urinary tract can be carried out by laparoscopy (keyhole surgery). This minimally invasive surgery uses only small incisions (cuts) in the skin, leading to less pain, a faster recovery and less scarring.

Stones in the kidney or renal tract can be treated in different ways, and your urologist will discuss suitable options with you once a diagnosis has been made.

A urethrotomy can be carried out to repair a narrowing in the urethra that has been caused by injury, inflammation or infection.

At Bath Clinic, we offer advanced cancer diagnostics, with specialist MRI scans of the prostate and prostate biopsies (including transrectal ultrasound guided biopsies and saturation biopsies) available.

If cancer is found in the prostate, kidney, bladder or testicles, treatment may be with surgery, radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Your urologist will work closely with the on-site oncology team to ensure you receive the most appropriate and effective treatment available for your specific cancer.

A transurethral resection of a bladder tumour (TURBT) may be carried out to establish the type of bladder tumour present and to scrape away (resecting) a superficial tumour.

Kidney cancer may be treated in a number of ways, including surgery or medication. Treatment options will depend on its exact location on the kidney, its size and whether it has spread outside the kidney. Complete removal of a kidney may be needed in some cases.

A radical prostatectomy (complete remove of the prostate and seminal vesicles) may be advised if prostate cancer is found that has not yet spread outside the prostate.

Testicular cancer is normally treated by surgically removing the testicle (this is known as an orchidectomy). An artificial prosthesis may then be inserted into the scrotum in order to give it a more natural appearance.

Where an enlarged prostate is causing problems by pressing on the urethra, surgery can be carried out to reduce its size. Trans-urethral resection of the prostate (TURP) involves removing enough prostate tissue to relive the pressure on your urethra.

For men, the following are also offered at Bath Clinic:

• Circumcision
• Circumcision revision
• Vasectomy
• Vasectomy reversal – not usually available on the NHS

With a wide range of treatments available, both conservative and surgical, help is available for you from highly experienced urologists. Treatment is always tailored to your specific needs.

If you have any concerns or would like to discuss treatment options for your condition, the best way to move things forward is to book a private urology appointment in Bath.

When you first meet your urologist here at Bath Clinic, they will take a medical history and talk about your symptoms with you in detail. They will ask you questions like:

• What symptoms do you have?
• When did you first notice these symptoms?
• Have they been getting worse over time?
• Have you received any treatment already?
• What impact are your symptoms having on daily life?
• Do you have any particular concerns about your symptoms?

Most first appointments are held face to face, but some can be conducted by telephone or video consultation.

You may need a physical examination. In men, this might include a prostate examination (digital rectal examination/DRE), which is quick and painless.

A Flow Rate test is quick and easy to carry out and is a way of measuring the speed and volume of urine passed. It can also be a good indicator of general bladder function.

Blood tests may be helpful when investigating possible infection, inflammation or cancer.

A flexible cystoscopy may be carried out to look for any blockage or narrowing along the urethra.

There are a number of diagnostic tests that can be carried out on-site, including ultrasound, CT and MRI scans. We may not always be able to carry these out for you on the same day as your appointment, in which case they will be arranged for you as soon as possible.

For some symptoms, your urologist may ask you to fill out a symptom questionnaire or to keep a bladder diary for a certain time to record how many times you go to the toilet each day. These can be particularly helpful in showing the impact your symptoms are having on your quality of life.

Once the results of any investigations are back and a diagnosis has been made, your urologist will meet with you again to discuss suitable treatment options so that you can make an informed choice about treatment. If you have any questions or concerns, they will be very happy to talk through them with you.

People from Bath and the surrounding areas, including Somerset and Bristol, choose to visit us for their private urology appointment.

Many are referred to us by their GP or their private medical insurance provider, while a number are recommended to us by a friend or family member. A medical referral can be helpful, but you can self-refer to avoid delay.

We treat people with private medical insurance and self-pay patients.

If you have any concerns about the health of your urinary tract, we believe that Bath Clinic is the very best place to come for investigation, diagnosis, treatment and post-treatment support.

When you visit a urologist at Bath Clinic you will benefit from:

• Short waiting times – When your symptoms are noticeable enough to seek help, the last thing you will want is to have to wait weeks (or even months!) to see somebody. We can arrange a private urology appointment for you without delay so that you can get the help you need sooner.
• Experienced (and friendly!) staff - The four urologists working at the hospital are highly experienced in a wide range of symptoms and conditions. They are supported in their work by a large team of healthcare professionals, including radiologists, physiotherapists, oncologists and anaesthetists. Fast, simple access to this multidisciplinary team means that you will always see the most appropriate person for your specific needs. If referral to another speciality is needed, like oncology, this is easily done.
• Consultant-led care – Every step of your care, from your very first appointment through to post-treatment follow-up, will be overseen by the same urologist. This continuity of care allows treatment to be tailored to your specific requirements and adjusted if needed.
• High-specification equipment and technology – The modern facilities and equipment available at Bath Clinic allow comprehensive and advanced investigation and treatment for a number of conditions. (For example, our MRI scanner allows us to carry out specialised imaging and treatment planning for prostate cancer.)
• Easy to book – Urology appointments are normally carried out in person at Bath Clinic. However, we can offer remote appointments by telephone or online video call if needed and where clinically appropriate. These can be helpful in determining the diagnostic investigations you may require, which can then be arranged for when you visit us.
• Recommended by patients – In an independent survey, 97.9% of the people we treated said they were likely or extremely likely to recommend Bath Clinic to their family and friends.
• Location – Bath Clinic is located approximately two miles from the centre of historic Bath, set within beautifully landscaped grounds and next door to a National Trust property. It is very easy to travel to us by private or public transport, and our 100-space car park is free for patients and visitors.

If you live in or around Bath and have any symptoms that are causing you concern or affecting daily life, why not book your private urology appointment now? We would be delighted to help you.