Private Gynaecology Service Darlington

• Menopause
• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Heavy periods (menorrhagia)
• HPV screening and vaccinations
• Painful periods
• Polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS, formally known as PCOS)
• Screening and diagnosis of cervical, ovarian, womb and vulval cancers
• Vaginal and uterine prolapse
• Female incontinence and urinary problems
• Vulval disease

The type of treatment you receive will depend on your symptoms, your age and whether you wish to have children.

Your consultant will assess your condition and give you an expert opinion. If further diagnostic tests or treatment are required, these will be explained fully during your consultation.

• Abdominal or pelvic pain during or between periods
• Bleeding between periods
• Painful intercourse
• Failure to conceive
• Heavy periods
• Intermittent or irregular periods
• Irregular discharge
• Itching or burning
• Sensation of prolapse
• Stress and other urinary incontinence, and bladder problems

Our team of gynaecology specialists also work collaboratively with a number of related specialties, to ensure you get the necessary specialised care for your condition.

Common diagnostic tests that we carry out include:

• Biopsy
• Blood tests
• Hysteroscopy
• Laparoscopy
• Pelvic examination
• Ultrasound
• Urodynamics

These will be carried out by our friendly and experienced imaging team, on-site.

Urodynamics is a test for finding out how your bladder, sphincter (the muscle around the neck of your bladder) and urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the body) are working. The test can help find out the cause for bladder problems such as incontinence, or difficulty in passing urine. The test may include X-rays to help your consultant make a diagnosis.

The purpose of a urodynamic study is to find out:

• If your symptoms are due to involuntary contractions (squeezing) or over activity of your bladder muscles
• If you have the bladder capacity we would normally expect
• If your bladder pressure is normal during filling and emptying
• If you are emptying your bladder normally

Urodynamics is usually performed as an outpatient procedure. The test results will help you and your consultant decide if you need to alter your current treatment, or if you need surgery.

A voiding diary is a record of how much you urinate. You will need to record what type of fluid you drink, when and how much, and the timing and volume of urine output.

You may also be asked to give information about when you experience urgency or urinary leakage.

They will most likely want to know:

• What symptoms have you had?
• How long have you had these symptoms?
• Have you received any treatment for them before?
• Have these symptoms been getting progressively worse?

Your consultant will then wish to perform a clinical examination of your symptoms. This will involve inspecting to asses the extent of any condition.

Many gynaecological conditions can be investigated and diagnosed with a laparoscopy. This involves using a small telescope (called a laparoscope), which is a thin tube with a light and camera attached to the end of it. The camera is connected to a video monitor that displays images of the inside of your tummy and pelvis. It allows your consultant to see what is happening without having to 'open up' your abdomen.

Certain scans may also be required to confirm a diagnosis. This may include an x-ray, MRI or ultrasound. Your consultant can use these results to help create a personalised treatment plan.

Non-invasive treatment can often be started on the same day, picking up any prescription medication from our on-site pharmacy. Surgical options will be presented to you with all the relevant information, and your consultant can outline all the risks and benefits of each procedure. This will enable you to make an informed decision on how best to proceed.

• Assessments ASAP – Gynaecological conditions are best treated at the earliest possible stage. If you’ve been experiencing any of the associated symptoms, our consultants can see you for an assessment without delay, getting you an accurate diagnosis and the necessary treatment before your symptoms progress any further.
• Patient satisfaction – 98.1% of patients in 2024 said they would be likely or extremely likely to recommend their consultant to their friends or family. 96% also said that their overall experience of the nursing care was very good or excellent. We aim to make your stay with us as comfortable as possible, and these results highlight our continued efforts to ensure this is achieved.
• Day case procedures – Some minor procedures can be done on the same day as your initial consultation, making Woodlands a ‘one-stop shop’ for certain treatments and procedures.
• Personalised care – We believe in a bespoke approach to treatment, tailoring each experience to our patients’ needs and whatever may be best for you. This is regularly reviewed, ensuring you get the necessary treatment at every stage of your patient journey.
• A multi-disciplinary approach – Our teams at Woodlands work in tandem with each other to provide you with the best possible care from start to finish. Working closely alongside a dedicated team of radiographers, anaesthetists, and nurses, you have support from medical professionals every step of the way during your treatment.
• Convenient appointments – With appointments available between 10am and 8.30pm Monday-Saturday, you are sure to find an appointment slot that suits your needs and availability.
• Park with ease – We know that parking should be the least of your worries when attending hospital, so our car park has ample space to accommodate your needs. This also includes 4 electric vehicle charging points. Alternatively, we are very close to Darlington Railway Station, should you wish to visit us by train. We are also a short walk from multiple bus stops, including Morton Park Way (Morrisons) and Yarm Road.

For peace of mind and expert care, contact our enquiry team on 01325 968195, or to book an appointment online with a specialist of your choice.

If you are paying for yourself, we can usually offer an upfront cost which you can then choose to pay in full or access one of our easy payment options.

If you have insurance, we can arrange direct settlement with your insurance provider, although you should check in advance to see if your treatment is covered. There are usually only three steps to accessing private treatment using insurance:

• Speak to your GP: Let your GP know that you have private medical insurance during your appointment with them. Ask them to refer you to Woodlands Hospital, and in you have already chosen which consultant you would like to see, let your GP know their name so they can give you a specific referral letter. The letter should include the hospital and consultant name, as well as the recommended treatment. Your GP can also give you a referral letter with no specified consultant.
• Speak to us: Once you have your referral letter from your GP, give our friendly Patient Liaison Officers a call on 01325 341786. If your GP gets in touch with us directly with your referral, we will be in touch with you.
• Speak to your insurer: After speaking to your GP, ensure that you call your insurer and activate your insurance. Have your insurance details to hand when you call, as they will need it to confirm that the treatment you need is covered by our policy. If the treatment is not covered but you would still like to go private, you can explore alternative methods.

For more information, visit our private medical insurance page.

We are located on Morton Park Way, opposite Dunelm and Premier Inn and over the road from Morrisons. Darlington Train Station is approximately 3.5 miles away and there is a taxi rank at the station with cabs available throughout the day. We are also a short walk from numerous bus routes, with stops at Morrisons and on Yarm Road. We are a short distance from local attractions such as Hopetown, the brick train sculpture and the Hippodrome.

We have free parking available on-site, with 4 electric vehicle charging points. The hospital has an accessible entrance, however please do let a member of the team know if you require a wheelchair and one of our friendly porters can assist you into the building.

Each of our rooms feature an en-suite for added comfort and privacy. The rooms are spacious with a remote controlled TV and free Wi-Fi available during your stay. Our catering team are on-hand to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at regular mealtimes. We offer a range of choices available, please do let us know of any special dietary requirements you have prior to your admission.

As well as offering surgery, we have a number of fantastic facilities on-site at Woodlands.

Our physiotherapy department consists of many experienced senior physiotherapists with a range of clinical interests including hand, women's health and men's health. We also have a fully equipped gymnasium, including an anti-gravity treadmill, exercise bike and numerous weights. The team will work closely with you to reach your goals, and you can self refer to book an appointment. If you're interested, please give the team a call on 01325 341712 and choose option 2.

We also have imaging facilities on-site, including a wide-bore MRI scanner, x-ray, ultrasound, fluoroscopy and access to a CT scanner. Please note: appointments for any imaging service at Woodlands Hospital can only be made once the department receives a referral from a GMC-registered consultant. For more information, please give our friendly enquiry team a call on 01325 968 195.