History and Development
In the spring of 2004, The Fountain Medical Centre opened a new Community Urology Diagnostic Service in the Fountain Medical Centre in Morley. To provide a patient-friendly and high quality service for Leeds patients presenting with haematuria in the community. This service has enabled local GPs to directly refer to the unit for flexible cystoscopy instead of referring to local hospitals, thus avoiding long waiting-times. The average waiting time for an appointment at the Fountain Medical Centre is approximately four weeks. The unit is run in accordance with the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) Guidelines and subject to regular audit and review. It is our wish to ensure that patient care is of a high standard. To ensure this, all General Practitioners performing Cystoscopy have been approved by secondary care to carry out the procedure. They will be accredited and updated in accordance to the guidelines of the Citywide accreditation panel.

Facilities and Equipment
The premises are purpose-built and self-contained. The unit consists of a 22 square metre procedure room with adjacent cystoscopy cleaning facilities, storage and sluice. There is recovery space for 3 patients and an adjacent waiting area. The unit is equipped with Keymed video scope equipment and Steris sterilising facilities. In early 2006 we completed a reorganisation and refurbishment of our theatre space to further improve our already excellent facilities. Giving us a modern, clean, comfortable and high quality environment for patients and clinicians alike.

Patient satisfaction
Each year we have conducted a patient survey of the service where 100 patients have been randomly selected for their views on the service they have received. The areas they were asked to comment on were:-

• Ease of finding the Fountain Medical Centre
• Parking available outside.
• Appearance of the waiting area.
• Welcome received.
• Promptness of treatment/examination.
• Helpfulness of the nurses and other staff.
• Adequate explanation of self-care.

In summary, responses from the questionnaire showed that respondents are experiencing high levels of satisfaction with the cystoscopy service at the Fountain Medical Centre. Based on the information received any areas for improvement, as identified by patients in their comments, have been implemented if deemed appropriate.

Referral Guidelines
As a GP and locality based service, it is both necessary and appropriate that we issue referral guidelines to local GPs. Patients must be carefully selected and low-risk.

Patients taking Warfarin, or who have a heart valve replacement, Endocarditis, Severe Parkinsonism, or 14 day cancer referrals or other urgent cases, are excluded. In general, persistent frank haematuria would be advised to be sent as cancer referral direct to a Urology department.

Patients are usually seen within 4 weeks, although urgent referrals are seen within two weeks. Referral should be made using the Fountain Medical Centre Cystoscopy referral form which can either be accessed online via the Leeds Health Pathways or forms can be provided on request from the Fountain Cystoscopy Unit.

Click here to Link to the Fountain Medical Centre for more information about our Cystoscopy unit and our personel who run the service >>