Gynaecological Oncology

The Gynaecological Oncology service provides a diagnostic service for women with cancer of the reproductive system, including the ovaries, cervix, uterus, vulva and vagina.

There are 12 Gynaecological Consultants employed across the Trust and their aim is that the patient should undergo a thorough assessment leading to timely diagnosis and treatment.

The prospect of coming to hospital for an outpatient appointment, day case treatment or inpatient stay, can be daunting. We aim to make your experience as stress free and easy as possible for you and your family.

The Trust has a wide responsibility to provide direct clinical care, support, information and advice for patients, family, carers and staff regarding gynaecological cancers.

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• What happens after a referral?

  Patients with suspected gynaecological cancer will be referred by their GP and classified as “red flag”. This means that they will be seen at a specialist clinic as urgently as possible.

  There are several diagnostic clinics provided across the Trust. All patients who meet “Red Flag” criteria for referral are assessed at a dedicated Rapid Access Clinic at the Ulster Hospital or Bangor Hospital. If a patient presents to a non-dedicated Rapid Access Clinic and requires investigation, facilities are available to initiate this assessment. This ensures that all patients no matter where they are seen within the Trust have access to the same standard of care and support.

  A Macmillan Gynaecological Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) is available to contribute to the assessment of patient’s needs and the delivery of patient treatment. When patients are to be given a diagnosis of cancer, the Macmillan Gynaecological CNS can be called to offer counseling, support and information.

  We provide:

  • Ultrasound
  • Tissue sampling
  • Blood sampling
  • Cervical Screening
  • Outpatient Hysteroscopy
  • Specialist Radiology Imaging
  • Colposcopy
  • Minimal Access Surgery
  • Review following post-operative cancer treatment
  • Psychosexual Counselling
  •  Macmillan CAB Welfare Advice Service
  •  Macmillan Information and Support
  •  Counselling Service
  •  Psychology Service

  The first stage of the diagnostic pathway is managed by the Gynaecological Oncology Multidisciplinary Team which works in close partnership with the Specialist Gynae Oncology Multi-Disciplinary Team at the Belfast Trust. The teams meet weekly to ensure that patients with a gynaecological cancer diagnosis receive the highest quality of care possible by a team of experienced gynaecological specialists.

  Surgery for gynaecological cancer will be carried out at either the Ulster Hospital or at the Belfast City Hospital, which is dependant on the type of treatment required.  For patients requiring chemotherapy or radiotherapy, this will be carried out at the Cancer Centre at the Belfast City Hospital.

• Referral

  Referral Guidelines can be found here.

  Patients can be referred to the service via

  • A&E
  • A clinician
  • GP
• Useful Links

  NICAN – www.cancerni.net

  Macmillan – www.macmillan.org.uk  

  Cancer Focus NI– www.cancerfocusni.org

  Jos Trust– www.jostrust.org.uk

  Ovacome– www.ovacome.org.uk

  What happens at cervical screening

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