HEREFORDSHIRE patients undergoing tests for a range of urological diseases, including cancer, are set to benefit from new state-of-the-art equipment which will mean a diagnosis and a decision on treatment within hours instead of weeks.

Hereford County Hopsital’s urology department has been looking to improve and advance the service it provides to the county and the surrounding areas’ patients.

The department was able to complete the first step towards streamlining the service by purchasing an ultrasound machine and stepper unit used during a prostate biopsy in 2015 assisted by the Cheltenham-based charity ROBOCAP.

The trans-perineal template biopsy service was introduced for men with a raised prostate-specific antigen (PSA). PSA is a protein produced by normal cells in the prostate and also by prostate cancer cells. A raised PSA level may indicate a problem with a prostate, but not necessarily cancer.

The template biopsy allows a large number of tissue samples to be obtained from different parts of the prostate, improving the detection of small cancers compared with other biopsy methods. The process uses ultrasound to guide the biopsy; fusing it with MRI images.

David Sparrey, trustee of ROBOCAP, said: “The new service will undoubtedly be of huge benefit to urology patients and give a more timely diagnosis. We are very pleased to continue to be involved with the purchase of new equipment for the department.”

The team can now offer a one-stop clinic for both men and women, providing an enhanced assessment for early diagnosis.