For information on getting to the hospital, please visit the following page: Coming Into Our Hospital
Typical care pathway
If your GP has any concerns, they will refer you to the Non-Specific Symptoms (NSS) Pathway here at the hospital for further testing.
Before your first appointment, 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.
There are some useful links available on the following page, to help you prepare for appointments: Preparing for your appointments
For your initial appointment, you will receive a call from our NSS Pathway Navigator who will explain the service to you and the process from referral to diagnosis. During that initial call they will also schedule a telephone call with a member of the clinician team. This involves taking a full medical history and discussing your current symptoms and concerns. This call usually takes 20 – 40 minutes.
You will be referred for further tests to determine a diagnosis, for information on the tests which may be involved, please visit ‘tests and investigations which may take place’ (LINK)
The results from these tests will be reviewed at a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) meeting, where a group of medical specialists will review the results to determine a specific diagnosis.
It is intended that the pathway will lead to one of the following outcomes:
- Referral on to a site-specific specialist cancer pathway
- Referral to other speciality for onward management of a non-cancer diagnosis
- Discharged back to the care of the GP with advice and reassurance (if required)
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 an 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 head up the stairs/lift 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 head up the stairs/lift to level 3, then follow signs to the ‘Endoscopy Unit’.
Getting to the Pathology Department (blood tests)
The Pathology Department at the hospital, are along the hospital corridor on level 3 of the North building.
The direct telephone number for Pathology is 01722 336262 extension 4020.
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. Pathology 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 right on the main corridor to find the Pathology area on your left. This is also where you will find the blood test department reception.
