The gynaecology team care for women with a range of conditions within the Royal Victoria Infirmary.
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Our diverse team of gynaecologists alongside specialist nurses and practitioners offer services to local women and also welcome regional, national and international referrals.
We offer a patient-centred service aiming to promote engagement and health promotion with our community services. Together we offer screening services as well as medical and surgical management for benign and cancerous gynaecological conditions. We value continuous development and aim to integrate high quality research, lead by our clinical teams and patients, in all that we do.
Our services broadly include early pregnancy, benign gynaecology, gynaecological cancer and fertility. We are proud to be inclusive and work within the broader hospital and community multidisciplinary teams to ensure that every patient receives the best care possible in a timely manner.
Our team
Our service is run by a team of skilled staff with a range of experience:
- Allied working with Urology and colorectal teams
- Gynaecology consultant surgeons
- Clinical nurse specialists from Macmillan cancer support
- Nurse practitioners
- Physiotherapists
- Dermatologists
Gynaecology departments
Gynaecology emergency assessment unit (GEAU)
Our 24 hour emergency gynaecology service is based in gynaecology emergency assessment unit (GEAU) next to Ward 40. We work closely with the emergency department aiming to streamline care into specialist services.
Early pregnancy assessment clinic
The early pregnancy assessment clinic (EPAC) is next to ward 40. The clinic is run by a team of specialist nurse practitioners and doctors.
Outpatient clinics
We deliver outpatient clinics in the outpatient department and our women’s health unit.
Women’s health unit
We offer many gynaecological procedures and minor surgeries as an outpatient in the women’s health unit. This is the largest purpose-built diagnostic and therapeutic centre for women’s health in the North.
We provide quality, dignity and respect in a clean and modern environment incorporating innovative technologies into our routine care.
Our range of clinics include
- Hysteroscopy
- Colposcopy
- Cystoscopy
- Urodynamics
- As well as procedures under local anaesthetic and sedation.
Inpatient surgery is offered within the RVI and is supported by our specialist nursing team on ward 40 with subspecialty fertility services based at the Centre for Life.
Day-case surgery is also offered at the Day Treatment Centre at the Freeman hospital.
The day unit is based next to Ward 40 in the Leaze’s wing (opposite Ward 41 entrance). The specialist team provide advice and guidance about decisions regarding pregnancy, inpatient and outpatient termination of pregnancy procedures as well as aftercare and contraception advice.
Gynaecology services
Pregnancy care
We provide care for women in early pregnancy (up to 12 weeks or the first dating scan) through the early pregnancy assessment clinic (EPAC). Women can self refer or can be referred to the service from the emergency department or their GP.
Where women are unsure if they would like to continue with a pregnancy, they can contact the abortion team to discuss termination of pregnancy. This is a confidential service.
Cancer care
Women are referred urgently to the cancer team based within the women’s health unit where there are symptoms that might suggest a possible cancer.
The majority of women referred do not have cancer but it’s important to be sure. We aim to complete any necessary tests as quickly as possible.
If a cancer diagnosis is made you will be supported by the specialist regional team who deliver care across the RVI, Freeman Hospital as well as working closely with other local hospitals.
Our women’s health unit has a large colposcopy service where we care for women who have abnormal ‘smear tests’.
The majority of women seen in Colposcopy do not have cancer and this service aims to prevent the development of cancer.
Emergency gynaecology
The gynaecology emergency assessment unit (GEAU) is based next to ward 40 and offers 24 hour assessment for any gynaecological emergency. We work closely with the emergency department to make sure care we streamline your care.
General gynaecology
We offer comprehensive care including medical and surgical management for those with:
- Pain and bleeding
- Need for contraceptive management
- Management of menopause
- Urogynaecology
- Vulva disorders
- Endometriosis.
Urogynaecology
Our specialist urogynaecology team includes doctors, nurse practitioners, physiotherapists as well as allied specialists from other surgical specialities.
We provide the supra-regional mesh service for the North of England as well as providing medical and surgical management of incontinence and prolapse.
We appreciate the impact that symptoms can have on quality of life and work to provide long term care with support with pessary management and urinary bladder Botox provision under local anaesthetic.
Gynaecology surgery
We provide a wide range of gynaecological surgery for women in Newcastle and across the North of England. This includes laparoscopic, robotic, vaginal and open surgery.
We can carry out some minor procedures in the women’s health unit or at the Freeman’s Day Treatment Centre.
We are proud to work with other specialist services in Newcastle to offer comprehensive complex surgery to those with need.
Fertility care
The specialist fertility team are based at the Newcastle Fertility Centre within the Centre for Life.
Research, teaching and training
Research
Within Newcastle, we have a large research team and often work with Newcastle University. We are involved in research and may discuss the possibility of you getting involved in research at any of our clinics.
Whilst we are very grateful for those who choose to participate, this is not essential and please feel free to decline. This will not affect your care.
Teaching and training
We are a large teaching hospital and are proud to support trainee doctors, nurses and other health care professionals. Our trainees contribute to the care of our patients as well as develop their own skills and are always under appropriate supervision.
Please make a member of staff aware if you do not wish them to be present during your appointment. This will not affect your care.