Success for outpatient hysteroscopy service

10 November 2014

Women in Jersey are benefitting from a gynaecological procedure which takes only ten minutes and means that they can be treated as outpatients at the Hospital without the need for a general anaesthetic or to take time off work.

The gynaecological team at the General Hospital, led by consultant Mr Akim Famoriyo, have been offering women a procedure called a hysteroscopy as an outpatient appointment for nearly a year.

In that time, 154 women have undergone the procedure. There is no longer a waiting list for a hysteroscopy, which is carried out in a dedicated weekly clinic, by the Hospital’s four gynaecological consultants.

The appointment is only 30 minutes long and although patients take mild pain relief tablets before the procedure, there is no need for an anaesthetic of any kind, or a hospital stay.

The procedure explained

A hysteroscopy is a procedure which allows a gynaecologist to see the inside of the uterus (womb) with the help of a very thin scope called a hysteroscope (camera). The procedure can be used for either diagnosis or treatment.

An outpatient hysteroscopy might be performed for a number of reasons. It might be to:

investigate the causes of heavy or irregular bleeding or bleeding after the menopause
find a missing coil
investigate infertility
can be used to remove fibroids or polyps, or to take a sample of lining from the womb

“In the last 12 months we have had good feedback on the procedure from the women who have had a hysteroscopy," said Sister Jessie Marshall of Rayner Ward at the Hospital.

"It means that they can carry on with their daily activity once the procedure is over, with no need to worry about a hospital stay or the effects of an anaesthetic. It is beneficial to women as it allows us to treat women much more quickly and effectively and also beneficial to the Hospital as there is no theatre time needed, which releases time for other operations to be undertaken.”

Pain relief

All outpatient hysteroscopies are carried out in the Rayner ward outpatient department, following a referral by their GP for a specialist opinion. Women who come in for the appointment need to take only normal pain relief, such as Paracetamol, an hour before the appointment.