Welcome

The North East Region pioneered the development of urology services in the UK with a "hub and spoke" model. The hub units (based at Freeman Hospital, Sunderland Royal Hospital & James Cook University Hospital) provide a full range of inpatient facilities for major urological surgery; the surrounding "spoke" units focus on diagnostic services and day-case surgery. This has led to increasing sub-specialisation and service development across the region. North Cumbria University Hospital (Carlisle) and University Hospital North Tees (Stockton) provide all core urology services.

Freeman Hospital, Newcastle-upon-Tyne

Located within the friendly, vibrant city of Newcastle, the Freeman Hospital has an international reputation for its pioneering medical care and treatment, performing the UK’s first successful child heart transplant as well as Europe’s first single and double lung transplants. We are a regional Urology centre, recognised as having one of the top clinical research programmes in Europe. As part of a £300m investment, a new a state-of-the-art centre has been built at the Freeman Hospital for the care of patients with cancer and kidney disorders.

The Newcastle Surgical Training Centre, based at the Freeman Hospital, provides a unique training facility using cadaveric material. Approximately 60 advanced training courses are run every year for surgeons from across Europe, representing multiple specialties including urology. Our particular focus has been in teaching the techniques of advanced minimal access surgery, using the most up-to-date technology in a purpose-built environment.

Trainee rotation involves all regional urological units, providing a comprehensive exposure to all aspects of urology. Trainees can expect exposure to core urology, uro-oncology, endourology & stone management, female Urology, bladder dysfunction & urodynamics, reconstructive urology, paediatric urology, renal transplantation and laparoscopic urological surgery. There is also exposure to urological research with strong links to the University of Newcastle.

Click here to see recent publications from the Newcastle urology department.

James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough

Middlesborough was the birthplace of James Cook (pictured), who sailed from Whitby on his voyages of discovery.

The James Cook University Hospital is a large, modern teaching hospital (completed in 2003). It provides a full range of medical specialities and is a tertiary referral centre for urology, nephrology, oncology and other specialist services, as well as being the Regional Spinal Injuries Centre. It is the urological centre for "hub and spoke" services across Teesside.

There are 10 Consultant Urologists. Trainees are exposed to the full range of urology including uro-oncology, pelvic/upper tract laparoscopy, endourology/stone management, andrology, reconstructive urology and management of the neuropathic bladder in the spinally-injured patient.

There are academic links to the universities of Teesside and Durham with good opportunities for research and teaching.

North Cumbria University Hospitals, Carlisle

Located on the northern fringe of the Lake District National Park, an area of outstanding natural beauty on the corner of the Solway estuary, the urology team at the Cumberland Infirmary in Carlisle covers a population of almost 330,000 people in one of the largest counties in the UK.

We operate a "hub-and-spoke" arrangement with the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven through a team of three (soon to be four) Consultants. We have teaching hospital status and close links with the Northern Deanery as well as with the satellite branch of the Dental School on-site. West Cumberland hospital is presently undergoing a £100 million regeneration and will have state of the art facilities on completion.

We offer a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic urology including core services, renal laparoscopy, upper tract endoscopy and andrology. Trainees can, therefore, expect a broad-based exposure within the unit.

We have links to the Northern Centre for Cancer Care with a shared MDT and the hospital is recognised for undergraduate and postgraduate training.

Sunderland Royal Hospital

City Hospitals Sunderland is a large Urological Cancer Centre covering the surrounding areas of Sunderland, Durham and South Tyneside. The department offers a full range of Urological sub-specialties and is the Penile Cancer Centre for the North East.

The Hospital has strong links with the local Universities and is involved in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education.

Sunderland is within easy reach of some of the most interesting countryside in England and there are great opportunities for sporting and outdoor activities.