Prostate surgery and laser prostate surgery at Spire South Bank Hospital

Located in the city of Worcester, we provide comprehensive private hospital care for our patients across the West Midlands.

Our expert consultants will provide you with a treatment and recovery plan that’s personalised to your needs. We offer fast access to diagnostic tests, scans and consultations, so you won’t have to wait long to find out if surgery is right for you. We’ll usually be able to book your surgery within two to four weeks of your referral or diagnosis by your consultant.

We have a range of procedures available for prostate surgery. All have their own potential benefits and risks which your consultant will discuss with you.

The type of anaesthetic you need varies depending on the procedure you need. It may be:

• A general anaesthetic meaning you’re asleep – this is most often used
• A spinal or epidural – where you can’t feel anything from the waist down
• A local anaesthetic – you’ll be awake but you won’t be able to feel anything in the area being operated on

Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP)

• A special instrument is passed through your urethra and a small, electrically-heated wire is used to trim small pieces of prostate tissue
• Performed under general anaesthetic
• You’ll need a urinary catheter for around one to three days after the operation

Laser prostate surgery

• A specialised tool is passed through your urethra and a laser (eg a HoLEP Holmium laser or GreenLight laser) which generates intense heat is used to trim small pieces of prostate tissue
• Performed under general anaesthetic
• You usually need a urinary catheter for around one to three days after the operation, but it may be for a shorter time than with a TURP

Your consultant will recommend a treatment based on your condition and overall health.

Finding us

Spire South Bank Hospital is convenient for both the city of Worcester and junction 7 of the M5 which is just 2 miles away, as are Worcester Shrub Hill station and Worcester Foregate Street station. We have free parking for you and your visitors.

Your consultation

Your initial consultation will be in one of our private consultation rooms. During your appointment, your consultant will discuss:

• The symptoms you’re experiencing, such as weak urine flow or difficulty passing urine
• Your general health and medical history
• If you need to have further tests and scans to assess your condition and which treatment option would be best for you
• The treatment options, including alternatives to surgery, and which procedure they recommend for you

Before proceeding with your treatment, you may need to have a pre-operative assessment with one of our specialist nurses. This is to check your overall health and fitness before having surgery.

You will usually stay with us for three days so you’ll be shown to your own en-suite room before your operation. All of our private rooms have:

• Freeview TV
• En-suite
• Window
• Armchair
• WiFi

The procedure lasts for around an hour. If you’ve come with a friend or family member, they’re welcome to wait in our Coffee Lounge while you have your operation.

You may need a urinary catheter after the operation. This is because your urethra may be swollen which can block urine from passing. It will be removed before you leave hospital.

You may be in some discomfort following surgery, so our nurses will give you medication to help. They’ll also be able to give you advice on how to manage any pain once you’re home.

Recovery time

Everyone’s different, and your recovery will depend on the procedure you've had and your general health. Recovery from some procedures can be quicker for some patients, so check with your consultant.

As a guide, here’s a typical recovery timeline for transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), which is most often performed: