Department of Urology
For patients
- Your urology appointments
- Pre-assessment clinics
- On the day of surgery
- Our wards (Watford General Hospital)
- Our wards (St Albans City Hospital)
- Urology support group
Urology appointments
All newly-referred patients are offered outpatient clinic appointments at Watford General, Hemel Hempstead City or St Albans City hospital. Patients referred by GPs using the 2 weeks referral proforma for suspected cancers are seen within two weeks, either in the outpatient clinics, Prostate Biopsy Clinics at SACH or the Haematuria clinic held in the Endoscopy Unit at Hemel Hempstead Hospital.
Routine patients are seen in any of our outpatient clinics that are held on all three sites.
You will receive a letter letting you know where your appointment will be and how to get there. Click on the hospital name for online information about our hospitals.
Please try to arrive 15 minutes before your appointment starts. You may need to give a urine sample before you see a doctor. If you have urinary symptoms you may be asked to pass urine in a machine to assess your flow. It is helpful to attend with a full bladder. On the day of the appointment you will be seen in clinic by our medical team.
For general information about outpatient appointments at our hospitals see our Outpatient Guide
With the aim of providing care closer to home, we run virtual telephone clinics. These are verbal consultations with a member of the clinical team over the phone. You will receive a letter letting you know when your telephone appointment is scheduled.
Pre-assessment clinics
If you are booked for surgery, you may be asked to attend one of our pre-assessment clinics. This clinic is designed to streamline your admission by making sure that you are medically fit for the procedure.
This is a nurse run service, with specialised nurses checking past and present health, undertaking and arranging for routine investigations such as blood tests, ECG (electrocardiogram) and other specialised tests as appropriate.
It is important to bring all medication and over the counter tablets such as vitamins to this appointment – if possible bring your prescription form in with you.
On the day of Surgery
It is important that you should have nothing to eat from midnight on the day of surgery and only clear fluids (no milk!) up until 2 hours prior to surgery. You will be told at pre-assessment clinic if it is necessary to stop certain medications in the days prior to surgery.
It is recommended that you bring a dressing gown, slippers, a wash bag, some small change and your medication. Please do not bring valuables or alcohol.
Operations
If your operation is at Watford General Hospital, most patients go to the surgical admissions lounge, 5th Floor Princess Michael of Kent Block, on the morning of the operation.
If your operation is at St Albans City Hospital, you will go to either Beckett Ward (4th Floor) or De La Mare Ward (5th Floor), Moynihan wing, or the Day surgery unit, Gloucester wing, on the morning of surgery.
Some patients will go home the same day, but for some procedures there is a short hospital stay.
Our Wards: Watford General Hospital (5th Floor Main block Princess Michael Of Kent)
If you need to stay in hospital overnight for a urology procedure or treatment you will stay on Ridge, Langley or Flaunden ward. They all have single sex bays.
Download a ward leaflet from our patient information page.
Information for visitors
Visiting hours are:
- 13.00 - 21.00
Where you will be admitted
If you are asked to come to hospital:
- On the day before your surgery, you will be admitted to Ridge or Langley ward
- On the day of your surgery you will be admitted to the surgical admissions lounge (SAL) on the fifth floor Princess Michael of Kent Wing and be taken to Ridge or Langley ward after your surgery
Mealtimes
- Breakfast: 7-8am
- Lunch: 12-1pm
- Dinner: 5-6pm
We have a 'protected mealtime' policy so you can eat without being interrupted.
Hot drinks are served breakfast, mid-morning, afternoon and early evening. This is free for patients, but we ask visitors to make a small donation.
Facilities on the ward
A newspaper trolley visits the ward each morning and afternoon.
Much more information is found on our ward information leaflets.
For general information about inpatient stay (including parking) see our Inpatient Guide
Our Wards: St Albans City Hospital (Moynihan wing)
Download a ward leaflet from our patient information page.
If you need to stay in hospital overnight for a urology procedure or
treatment you will stay on De La Mare or Beckett ward. They all have single sex
bays.
Information for visitors.
Visiting hours are:
- 13.00 - 21.00
Where you will be admitted
If you are asked to come to hospital:
- On the day before your surgery, you will be admitted to De La Mare or Beckett ward.
- On the day of your surgery you will be admitted to:
- The day surgery unit (Gloucester wing) and be taken to De La Mare or Beckett ward after your surgery
Mealtimes
- Breakfast: 6.45-7.15am
- Lunch: 12-1pm
- Dinner: 5-6pm
We have a 'protected mealtime' policy so you can eat without being interrupted.
Hot drinks are served breakfast, mid-morning, afternoon and early evening. This is free for patients, but we ask visitors to make a small donation.
Facilities on the ward
A newspaper trolley visits the ward each morning and afternoon.
Much more information is found on our ward information leaflets
For general information about inpatient stay (including parking) see our Inpatient Guide
Urology support group
Our Urology Support Group is a patient support group for patients with urological cancer. It is run by Tina Khan and Elaine Lousley with support from the Macmillan Cancer Support volunteers. The group meets on the last Friday of every month between 2pm - 4pm at Nash Mills Village Hall, Lower Road, Hemel Hempstead, HP3 8RT. Parking is free in the car park in front of Nash Mills Village Hall.
For more information please email westherts.urologysupportgroup@nhs.net.
