One-stop Benign Gynaecology Clinic
Welcome to Our Service
The One-Stop Benign Gynaecology Service is staffed by a team of specialist doctors and nurses in gynaecology. We have several consultant clinics per week.
A doctor has recommended you to our Service for further investigation. This leaflet explains what to expect during your appointment. It is a guide, and you will be able to ask your specialist doctor/ nurse more specific questions at your appointment.
Please note we are unable to accept walk-ins — you must have a referral from your GP or hospital doctor at one of our hospitals at Chelsea & Westminster.
Out of Hours or urgent queries/ concerns
Please speak to your GP or attend your nearest A&E if you feel unwell.
For appointment queries
If you need to cancel or re-schedule your appointment, please notify the appropriate clinic under ‘Useful contacts’ at the bottom of this leaflet as soon as possible.
What are One-stop Benign Gynaecology Clinics?
These are out-patient clinics where you are seen by specialists to further investigate the gynaecological problem you discussed with your doctor. Our doctors will go through your symptoms and medical history in more detail and examine you. This may include feeling your abdomen, doing an internal examination, and possibly having an internal ultrasound scan. All this information helps the doctor to decide what might be causing your symptoms and recommend treatment(s) to you. We aim to see, investigate, and treat you in one visit. Occasionally, additional investigations/ treatments are advised which cannot be completed in a single visit. We will refer you on to an appropriate gynaecology clinic.
Who do we see in these clinics?
We see patients with any of the following:
- Uterine fibroids and polyps
- Irregular vaginal bleeding/ periods
- Ovarian cysts (some cysts need onward referral to a different clinic)
- Long-standing non-urgent gynaecological problems, such as heavy and/or painful periods and pelvic pain
- Lost or misplaced coils
- Insertion of coils +/- assisted by ultrasound
- Incidental findings on CT/ MRI reports
Your Appointment
Your appointment letter will advise you the exact hospital and location of your appointment. You may wish to bring someone along to the appointment. We ask that only one adult attends the consultation with you. Rarely, your doctor may ask them to leave but only if necessary. We also ask that you try to arrange alternative childcare for children or babies and do not bring them to your appointment. You may need to provide a urine sample for a pregnancy test.
Sometimes we also need to perform investigations during your appointment such as:
- Ultrasound scans. These are normally done via a ‘transvaginal’ approach. This means the tip of the ultrasound probe is passed into the vagina. This is not harmful and should not be painful, although some patients may experience mild discomfort.
- An internal examination to look at your cervix and this may include biopsies, insertion or removal of intrauterine contraception, pelvic swab tests or cervical smears if necessary. Biopsies and insertion/ removal of intrauterine contraception takes 1-2 minutes to complete and may cause period-like pain, which last only a few minutes. (We no longer perform routine smears in these clinics.)
- Blood tests. These will be requested electronically, and if we cannot take them during your appointment, you will be advised what is required to attend the Out-patient Phlebotomy department at the hospital you visit—follow the signs for ‘Blood Tests'.
During examinations or procedures an assisting nurse/ chaperone is present to support you, ensure your comfort and correctly position you on the couch. We aim to maintain your dignity and the examination; the procedure can be stopped anytime you request it.
As mentioned, your doctor will discuss your examination findings, the likely cause of your symptoms, recommend any other investigations you may need and your treatment options, including surgery. You will be given an opportunity to ask questions.
Preparing for your appointment
To have an internal ultrasound scan, you need an empty bladder. However, if you have never had sexual intercourse, a prior traumatic experience or do not want an internal scan, let staff know. We can adjust your care; an abdominal scan may be offered instead. In this case, you will need a full bladder and may need to drink about 1 litre of fluids before your scan.
As mentioned, we sometimes also perform minor procedures which you may experience as painful. It can be difficult to always predict if you will need a procedure unless your referring doctor has already told you. Consider taking simple painkillers of your preference (eg. paracetamol or ibuprofen) 1-2hours before your appointment, especially if your doctor advised you will need a procedure in clinic.
For many procedures it is important you are not pregnant. If you are sexually active and of child-bearing age, you must use contraception from your last menstrual period until your appointment, otherwise we may not be able to complete your procedure during this appointment.
Your appointment will take around 40 minutes. You should still attend even during your period; it will not affect your assessment. We aim to see all patients on time; clinic staff will inform you if clinic delays arise.
After your appointment
We will write to you and your GP with the results of your consultation and if any follow-up is required. If you require further procedures or surgery, we will refer you to the appropriate clinical teams within gynaecology. Many patients will not need further hospital care and we will discharge you back to your GP with advice & guidance to manage in home.
If you have pending investigation results from your hospital visit, we will write to you and your GP with the results once they are available. A very small number of patients will need to return to clinic to discuss their results in person; we will arrange this.
Research & Teaching
You may be asked to take part in research to improve future patient care. This is entirely voluntary and will not affect your care. We understand not all patients will want to take part. You will be given information leaflets and time to decide. As a teaching hospital we train the next generation of students and clinical staff in specialist gynaecology care through our clinics.
Please let us know if you have any queries/ concerns.
Patient Advice & Liaison Service (PALS)
If you have concerns or wish to give feedback about services, your care or treatment, you can contact the PALS office in the main atrium or you can complete a feedback form on our website www.chelwest.nhs.uk/pals. We value your opinion and invite you to provide us with feedback.
WMUH: 020 8321 6261;chelwest.wmpals@nhs.net
C&W: 020 3315 6727; chelwest.cwpals@nhs.net