Heartbeat: Gynaecology suite improves environment for patients and colleagues

May 1, 2019

Open since February, the new gynaecology unit at Sandwell Hospital is seeing more patients and providing a more enhanced service than ever before.

The unit moved from Trinity House to a purposely renovated area within the out patients department. The purpose of the move was to enable colleagues to offer more sessions for patients including colposcopy, gynaecological surgical procedures suite, hysteroscopy, cystoscopy and general gynaecology.

Heartbeat caught up with Tiffany Jones, Colposcopy Lead Nurse who told us more about the move.

She said: “Moving into the new unit has been great for patients and colleagues. It is much brighter and a more welcoming environment. It also helps that we are now situated in the main out patients department of the hospital, making is easier for patients and visitors to find us.

“A real bonus for patients is that we are now able to offer a gynaecological surgical procedures suite through our two new minor surgical theatres. This means women do not have to have their procedures in a traditional theatre setting under general anaesthetic. Instead we can perform the procedures within the unit as minor operations using local anaesthetic.”

As the service grows there are plans to recruit more staff. The team works as a single service with colleagues at the gynaecology suite at the Birmingham Treatment Centre. “We are one team and frequently work cross site,” said Tiffany. “In the coming months our two suites look forward to working on a campaign to encourage colleagues and members of the public to attend their smear tests. We will share more once the plans have been finalised.”