Urology

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NHS Tayside

Who to refer

The Urology team offers:

An emergency referral service
An online referral service for referrals and advice via SCI portal (consultant-led)
Specialist Nurse advice (SCI-portal, email or bleep)

Emergency referrals

Three tier referral system:

1st on-call (#3292) – Urgent/Routine/Advice – ANP or Junior registrar

- Available Monday – Friday, 0800 - 1700

2nd on-call (#4042) – Emergency/complex referrals/senior input – Senior registrar

- Available Monday - Friday, 0800 – 2000

- Weekends and after 2000hrs – contact via switchboard

3rd on-call Consultant available via switchboard for complex or emergency referrals.

Examples of conditions to refer to the on-call team:

Renal or Ureteric stones with acute pain, kidney injury or hydronephrosis

Urosepsis secondary to obstructive causes (e.g. stone or urological cancer)

Acute peno-scrotal conditions (e.g. testicular torsion, trauma, paraphimosis)

Severe urogenital infections (e.g. complicated epididymo-orchitis, Fournier’s gangrene)

Acute urinary retention

High pressure chronic retention (LUTS + obstructive AKI or Hydronephrosis)

Severe, unremitting or complicated visible haematuria

Nephrostomy issues in patients with known Urological cancers

Outpatient referrals:

Please refer to the condition-specific guidance available on the Urology RefGuide pages

Specialist Nurse advice

Bleep #4475, SCI Gateway referral (marked FOA Specialist Nurses) or e-mail: tay.urologyspecialistnurses@nhs.scot -

Catheter or Nephrostomy issues

Requests for Flow studies

Advice about long-term Urology patients

Trial without catheter requests (TWOC)

Who not to refer

Simple UTI

Pyelonephritis in the absence of obstruction

Patients less than 16 years old

Nephrostomy-related issues in non-Urological cases (refer to parent speciality)

Vasectomy requests or reversals

Low testosterone

Gender reassignment

Male infertility

How to refer

Out-patient Referrals  

Outpatient referrals from Primary care are submitted via the SCI-portal

Outpatient referrals from Secondary care should be submitted via letter to on-call Consultant

Advice also available via SCI-Gateway

Emergency referral or urgent advice via on-call team.

1st on-call should be contact point - #3292.

If the referral is an emergency or complex enough to require senior input, please bleep #4042.

Please be aware the person holding the bleep may be in clinic, treating a patient or in theatre.

Alternative to Referral

Generic Urology Specialist Nurse generic email address: tay.urologyspecialistnurses@nhs.scot

or via SCI score (Referral FAO Specialist nurses)

Specialty Description

The Urology department in NHS Tayside is a multi-disciplinary team comprising clinicians, specialist nurses and administrative staff. 

Specialist Urology services are provided at two sites:  

Ninewells Hospital - major cancer, complex benign service and unscheduled care.

Perth Royal Infirmary - planned diagnostic, core urology and endourology services.

New outpatient referrals are seen in our one-stop clinic in PRI, which is our only diagnostic hub.

Specialist surgery and clinics take place in Ninewells hospital, where we have an establish robotic and open service for upper tract and pelvic surgery.