New Urology Investigation Unit welcomes first patients
The new Chestnut Urology Investigation Unit at University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP) has opened its doors to patients this week. The services offered in Urology have increased over time and the new location provides sufficient space to significantly increase the level of activity and number of patients who can be treated.
The Urology department diagnoses and treats urological disease, including bladder, kidney, testicular and penile cancer. The new unit is Gold Standard, with capacity for patients to have a scan, biopsy and see a consultant for diagnosis on the same day. There are only two other units in the country with these capabilities.
“Not only will the new unit provide outstanding care for patients,” said Unit Manager, Tracey Whittingham, “it will also provide an amazing environment for the staff, with wellness in mind, we have created a beautiful workplace that will help both staff and patients.”
The Unit was officially opened last week by Liz Natale whose late husband, Dr Salvo Natale was a co-founder and trustee of the Chestnut Appeal charity. Dr Natale sadly passed away earlier this year, shortly after retiring from UHP where he had worked as a Urologist since 1995. He is remembered by his colleagues as kind, larger than life and someone who brought happiness and laughter to everyone he knew.
The Urology team will continue to work closely with the Chestnut Appeal, a charity founded at Derriford Hospital who raise funds for the very latest equipment and comforts for patients, beyond what is offered on the NHS, making the unit the very best it can be. This includes funding for training a psychosexual counsellor, offering a dedicated service for male continence, funding pioneering equipment and technology to be housed in this new space. There will also be a conference room where a support group can meet each month.
"This purpose-built unit is going to be amazing for anyone who needs to access urology services, in particular men with Prostate, Testicular or Penile Cancers,” said Lesley-Ann Simpson, Chief Executive Officer at the Chestnut Appeal.
“Early, quicker, faster diagnosis saves lives, and this is the third unit in the country offering this service, following on from Manchester and London.
“This unit will be giving men gold standard care in the South West, where it will be possible, even the norm, to have a consultation, scan, biopsy and results the very same day. I can't wait for this service to be up and running and continuing to strive to be the best we can be.”
Urology Consultant and Trustee for the Chestnut Appeal, Paul Hunter-Campbell said: “The vision I had about six years ago was to create a facility that was all integral in terms of the investigation and to a degree, treatment of a lot of the urological conditions that we see. It’s thanks to the Trust, to the Estates Team and to my close team, Anna Wilson and Tracey Whittingham that we will now be able to deliver this service.
“The Chestnut Appeal has helped us to make this a really lovely facility for patients and it’s very fitting that we are also about to celebrate the charities 25th anniversary.”
For more information on the work of the charity, please visit www.chestnutappeal.org.uk
You can watch this video from Paul Hunter-Campbell and Tracey Whittingham on the new developments of the Chestnut Urology Investigation Unit:
