Urology clinic in Canterbury

Chaucer Hospital is found in the historic city of Canterbury, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the English county of Kent. Our patients come to us from local areas such as Faversham, Thanet, Herne Bay and Whitstable, as well as Deal, Wye, Ashford and Maidstone. Our expert consultants, world-class facilities and truly compassionate team also attract people from further afield, across the UK and even abroad.

Urology involves 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.

Your urinary tract is formed by the kidneys, ureters (the tube connecting your kidneys to the bladder), bladder and urethra, as well as the prostate, penis, and testicles in men.

A problem in any of these organs can cause a range of symptoms, some of which may be concerning to experience. Many people find it difficult to talk about problems in their urinary or reproductive tract, and this can cause a delay in diagnosis and treatment.

Common reasons people visit us are for help with:

• Urinary symptoms
• Blood in urine
• Recurrent urinary infections/cystitis-like symptoms
• Difficulty urinating
• Weaker flow
• Urgency/needing to rush to the toilet
• Increased frequency
• Feeling like your bladder isn’t empty, even though you’ve just been to the toilet
• Leakage/incontinence
• Frequently getting up at night to urinate (nocturia)
• Lump or swelling found in the testes, penis or scrotum
• Concerns around prostate cancer and raised PSA blood tests
• Penis/scrotal issues – such as erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, curvature of the penis, male infertility or blood in semen
• Tight or problematic foreskin
• Loin pain or Stone disease
• Concerns around cancer of the kidney or bladder

The urologists at Chaucer Hospital in Kent provide comprehensive investigation, diagnosis and treatment for any condition affecting the urinary tract or male reproductive organs. They would be delighted to help you access the most appropriate treatment for your needs, quickly.

Many urinary symptoms can often be treated without the need for surgery.

Simple lifestyle changes like cutting down the amount of tea, coffee or alcohol you drink may help to relieve some symptoms.

Pelvic floor muscle exercise or bladder training may help with incontinence.

Medication such as tablets or antibiotics can often be helpful for conditions such as recurrent UTIs, stress incontinence, an enlarged prostate and erectile dysfunction.

If your symptoms are not adequately relieved by non-surgical treatment, surgery may be an option.

Surgery for urinary symptoms will often involve cystoscopy, where a cystoscope (a thin tube with a camera) is moved through your urethra and into the bladder. Small surgical tools can be passed along the cystoscope to carry out treatments, such as the removal of small stones in the bladder. A tissue sample (biopsy) can also be taken for further analysis under a microscope if required.

Stones in the kidney or renal tract can be treated in different ways, and we offer a comprehensive stone service at Chaucer Hospital.

A urethroplasty can be carried out to repair damage to the urethra

Advanced and rapid Cancer diagnostics are offered at Chaucer Hospital with the latest MRI Prostate imaging, CT, prostate biopsy and rapid diagnostic cystoscopy (bladder inspection).

Cancer in the prostate, kidney, bladder or testicles may be treated with medication or surgery, and your consultant works closely with other specialists such as oncologists and cancer nurse specialists to ensure you receive the most appropriate treatment for your specific needs.

It is important to have quick access to Cancer services with a Multidisciplinary approach, and this is offered by us. We have a full spectrum of Oncologists specialising in Urological Cancers that can also see you.

A transurethral resection of a bladder tumour (TURBT) may be carried out to treat bladder cancer and also to determine the type of bladder tumour present.

In men, surgery can be carried out to reduce the size of the prostate in order to allow urine to flow more freely and improve urinary symptoms. The gold standard operation is the trans-urethral resection of the prostate (TURP).

Prostate artery embolisation stops the blood supply to specific parts of the prostate to reduce its size, and other new techniques such as Urolift are available. Your Urologist can discuss all these treatments and select the one that is most appropriate for you.

Where appropriate, we have urologists who can offer robotic-assisted surgery for treatment of prostate, kidney and bladder cancer. This may be a robotic assisted radical prostatectomy (complete remove of the prostate) or removal of a kidney tumour. We have available some of the UK’s most experienced Robotic Prostate Surgeons who can discuss these procedures with you with as much time as is required in our outpatient department.

Many types of procedures within the urinary tract can be carried out laparoscopically or robotically (minimally invasive surgery), which can mean less pain, a faster recovery and less scarring. If you want to seek private care for these procedures, please contact us, and we can arrange a consultation with the most appropriate surgeon.

For men we also offer:

• Circumcision
• Re-do circumcision
• Vasectomy
• Vasectomy reversal

If you have any symptoms that are causing you concern and would appreciate expert assessment and advice about treatment options, book your appointment online today.

When you first meet with your urologist here at Chaucer Hospital in Kent, they will take a medical history and discuss your symptoms with you. They may ask you questions like:

• What symptoms do you have?
• How long have you had these symptoms?
• Have they been getting worse?
• How are your symptoms affecting you on a daily basis?
• Have you received any treatment already, such as bladder training or prescribed medication?
• Does anything trigger your symptoms or cause them to flare up?

They may perform a physical examination, which for men may include a quick and painless prostate examination.

A Flow Rate test can help measure speed and volume of urine passed, as well as general bladder function.

Blood tests are helpful when investigation possible infection or inflammation.

A cystoscope can be used to check for any obvious blockages or strictures (narrowings) along the urethra.

Urodynamics can help to show bladder function.  This is a more involved test than the standard flow rate test, with a small catheter inserted into the bladder and one into the rectum (for men), vagina (for women). The bladder is filled through the bladder and as the bladder is emptied, the pressure is measured.

There are a number of diagnostic tests that can be carried out on-site, including MRI or ultrasound of the kidneys, bladder or prostate.

Once the results of any investigations are back and a diagnosis has been made, your urologist will meet with you again to discuss treatment options so that you can make an informed choice.

While many of our patients are local to East Kent, many people travel to us from other parts of Kent, London and Essex for their urology treatment.

Many people are referred by their GP, a consultant in another speciality or their private medical insurance provider. You can also self-refer to avoid delay.

We treat private medical insurance and self-pay patients.

When you visit a urologist at Chaucer Hospital you will benefit from:

• Fast access to an expert – We can book an appointment for you with an experienced Consultant Urologist without delay. By getting an earlier assessment and diagnosis, you will be able to get the help you need sooner.
• Personalised care – Every aspect of your care, from initial assessment through to treatment and post-treatment follow-up, can be tailored to your needs at all times. From complex procedures for stones to nephron-sparing surgery and a detailed cancer pathway, we provide specialised support and treatment options for the spectrum of urology conditions and symptoms.
• A multidisciplinary team – Fast access to specialists in other fields, like oncology, radiology and gynaecology, means you will always see the most appropriate person at every stage of your treatment.
• Convenient appointments – With Urology clinics throughout the week, it is easy to find an appointment that fits your schedule. We can also offer remote consultations by telephone or video call if required.
• Recommended by patients – In an independent surgery, 98% of patients said they were likely or extremely likely to recommend us to their friends and family.

If you have any urology symptoms that are concerning you, why not book a consultation to get clarity about the best way forward? We would be delighted to help you access the treatment you need as soon as possible.