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For information on getting to the hospital, please visit the following page: Coming Into Our Hospital.

What happens when you are referred to the Colorectal Rapid Referral Department

Option 1: Straight to tests

You may be referred straight to the hospital for tests to investigate any concerns. Please see the section titled ‘tests/investigations which may take place’ for further information on what these may involve.

Option 2: Initial telephone triage

Here at Salisbury we are piloting a new service where by your first contact from the hospital, if not sent directly to test, could be a telephone triage assessment carried out by a Colorectal Nurse Specialist.

This is being carried out to help reduce the waiting time before you are seen.

During this telephone call you will be asked questions about your health, your symptoms and your personal circumstances. The colorectal specialist will then advise what tests you need to have. You will then be contacted via letter or telephone to confirm a date for an appointment for any further tests. Most tests take place within 2- 6 weeks. It is helpful if you can tell us of any holidays you may have planned, or dates when you are not able to come to hospital for tests.

In some circumstances after telephone assessment the nurse may feel it is appropriate for you to see a colorectal Consultant in the first instance.

Why am I not being seen in person in clinic?

Many other hospitals carry out telephone assessment for patients that have been referred to the hospital with colorectal symptoms. Feedback from them is that patients have found this more convenient as saves the journey up to hospital.

The majority of patients that are seen first in an outpatient setting often are sent on for further investigations. By assessing you over the telephone we hope that we can speed this process up for you so you then receive possibly treatment or explanation for your concerns sooner.

If you do not want to have a colorectal telephone assessment then please call rapid referral office on 01722 336262 ext 4427.

Typical care pathway

If there are any concerns further to your initial telephone appointment, the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) will ask you to come in for tests (please see the section titled ‘tests/investigations which may take place’ for further information on what these may involve).

The results of these tests will be discussed at the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meeting, where your medical team will determine your diagnosis and the best course of treatment. After this, you will attend a ‘results clinic’ where your diagnosis and treatment will be discussed with you in full.

Most patients are initially treated with chemoradiotherapy, other treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy or radiotherapy (please see the section titled ‘treatment options’ for further information on what these may involve). Treatment for anal cancer is given at University Hospital Southampton as they are the local specialist centre which treats anal cancer.

Once treatment is finished, patients will be put onto a relevant follow up pathway by the team at University Hospital Southampton (please see the section titled ‘ongoing care’ for further information), so we can check for recurrence of the cancer.

What happens when you come to your appointments?

We advise you bring a relative or close friend to your outpatient appointments. There can be lots of information to take in, so we find it is useful for patients to have someone with them during these appointments.

When you come to clinic it would be helpful if you could consider any relevant information on the following beforehand:

Past Medical History - previous illnesses or operations
Regular medications - a list of prescriptions is useful
Family History - close relatives who may have had a diagnosis of cancer

Second opinions

Some patients may want to ask for a second opinion about their treatment. This might be:

Because they are not happy with the recommended treatment
To confirm the diagnosis
Because they don’t feel that they can talk to their current doctor about their treatment
To reassure and confirm that all treatment options have been explored.

You can ask your consultant or nurse specialist to refer you to another specialist for a second opinion. This may be another doctor at the same hospital or at a different hospital.

It is important to remember that a second opinion doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be offered a different treatment or that you will change to a different team or hospital. However, it could mean the start of your treatment is delayed whilst you seek your second opinion.

Don’t worry about whether you are offending your first healthcare professional. Treatment plans can be complicated, and it is common for healthcare professionals to ask their colleagues for a second opinion.

After treatment

After your treatment at University Hospital Southampton, the team will place you on a follow-up pathway.

Please visit our ‘ongoing care’ page for more information on follow up pathways for bowel cancer patients.

Getting to Medical/Surgical Outpatients

Medical/Surgical Outpatients is a standalone building opposite the Breast Unit.

By car: Enter the hospital site at Entrance A. Park in car park 8 at the rear of the hospital. Facing the hospital, cross over the road using the middle zebra crossing. Once across, turn left and immediately right down the road, heading towards the Sarum Entrance. You will soon see the Breast Unit on your left - Medical/Surgical Outpatients is opposite this.

By bus: leave the bus at the Springs Entrance (second stop). From here, head towards the middle zerba crossing. Turn right at the road immediately after this zebra crossing, (there are signposts to direct you). You will soon see the Breast Unit on the left - Medical/Surgical Outpatients is opposite this.

If you enter the hospital at the Main Entrance (level 3), follow the signs to All Outpatient Departments.

The Oncology Outpatients/Pembroke Unit (Pembroke Ward & Suite)

The Pembroke Unit comprises the Pembroke Ward and the Pembroke Suite.

Getting to The Pembroke Ward

The Pembroke Ward is for cancer patients who need to stay overnight or longer, rather than having treatment in the day unit. It is along the hospital corridor on Level 3 of the North hospital building.

The Ward is along the hospital corridor on Level 3 of the North hospital building.

By car:

Park in car park 8 and enter the hospital on Level 2 near the Springs Restaurant. Head up the stairs or lift, to Level 3 and go towards the Main Entrance. The Pembroke Ward is along the hospital corridor, very close to the Main Entrance – you can follow signs to find it.
If you have a disabled badge there is disabled parking by the Main Entrance and also near the Level 2 entrance by Springs Restaurant.

By bus:

Leave the bus at the Main Entrance bus stop, enter the hospital here. Go straight forward, at the end turn left along the main corridor to find the Pembroke Ward on your left.

Getting to Oncology Outpatients/Pembroke Suite/Day Unit

The Day Unit is based within the Pembroke Suite.

The reception desk is shared with Oncology Outpatients and the receptionists can be contacted on ext. 4382.

The Pembroke Suite is located on level 3 at the Main Entrance to the hospital. They can be contacted on 01722 336262 (extension. 5070)

By car:

If you park in car park 2, enter via the Main Entrance and take an immediate left (opposite Marks & Spencer), you will gain entrance through the door on the right, along the back wall.
If you park in car park 8, once you enter the hospital go to Level 3 and go to the Main Entrance. Oncology Outpatients/Pembroke Suite will be on your right, opposite Marks and Spencer.
If you have a disabled badge there is disabled parking by the Main Entrance and also near the Level 2 entrance, opposite car park 8 by Springs Restaurant.

By bus:

Leave the bus at the Main Entrance bus stop, enter the hospital here. Take an immediate left (opposite Marks & Spencer), you will gain entrance through the door on the right, along the back wall.

Getting to the Radiology Department

If you need a CT Scan:

By car:

Enter the hospital site at Entrance A. Park in car park 8 at the rear of the hospital. Enter the hospital at the Springs Entrance and head to Level 3, then follow signs to the ‘CT & MRI Scanner’.

By bus:

Leave the bus at the Springs Entrance (second stop). Enter the hospital at the Springs Entrance and head to Level 3, then follow signs to the ‘CT & MRI Scanner’.

Pictured above: CT & MRI-1 Scanner location

If you need a MRI:

We have two MRI Scanners which are located at opposite ends of the Hospital site. Please check your appointment letter carefully to see which scanner your scan is booked for, as it is about 10 minutes’ walk between the two scanners.

Our MRI-1 Scanner can be found on Level 3 in the Main Hospital corridor, follow signs to ‘CT & MRI Scanner’.

Our MRI-2 Scanner can be found in the Central building and is down the corridor from the Day Surgery Unit.

Pictured above: MRI-2 Scanner location

Getting to the Endoscopy Unit

The Endoscopy Unit is on Level 3 of the North building of the hospital.

By car:

Enter the hospital site at Entrance A. Park in car park 8 at the rear of the hospital. Enter the hospital at the Springs Entrance and take the stairs/lift up to Level 3, then follow signs to the ‘Endoscopy Unit’.

By bus:

Leave the bus at the Springs Entrance (second stop). Enter the hospital at the Springs Entrance and take the stairs/lift up to Level 3, then follow signs to the ‘Endoscopy Unit’.

Getting to the Stoma Clinic

For more information, visit their webpages via the following link: Stoma Care Clinic.

01722 429256 (ext 4256) – There is an answerphone available.

By car:

The Stoma Clinic is in the Central building, close to the Day Surgery Unit and MRI 2.
Enter the hospital site at Entrance A. Park in a car park close to the Central building, or you can also park in the larger car park 8, at the back of the hospital.
Enter the Central building and follow signs to the Stoma Clinic.
If you park in car park 8 - pass through the Eye Clinic doors, then follow the path and signs to the Stoma Clinic.
If you are being dropped off by car, you can be dropped off on The Green, which is your first left after you enter Entrance B. Use ‘The Green Entrance’ to enter the hospital and follow signs to the Stoma Clinic.
If you have a disabled badge, there is disabled parking by The Green, and also near the Level 2 entrance, opposite car park 8 by Springs Restaurant.

By bus:

Alight at The Green Entrance (first stop). Enter the hospital at The Green Entrance and follow signs to Stoma Care Unit (which is between Day Surgery and MRI).

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