Women in Gateshead who have been through the menopause can now book a pelvic ultrasound scan directly if they are concerned about potential symptoms of ovarian cancer, thanks to a new service launched by Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust. The new initiative, known as Ovacheck, removes the need for a GP referral to help speed up the process of checking for health issues.
The service is available to anyone living in the Gateshead area or those registered with a local GP. Those experiencing symptoms such as persistent bloating, abdominal pain, changes in toilet habits, regular indigestion or acid reflux, and unexpected weight loss or tiredness can now contact the service directly. Appointments can be made by filling out an online form, emailing [email protected], or calling 0191 445 5459.
Consultant Gynaecological Oncologist Nithya Ratnavelu is leading this effort to help people act sooner. By allowing direct access to scans, the trust aims to find cases earlier, which significantly improves the chances of successful treatment. Currently, most ovarian cancer cases in the UK are diagnosed at a later stage, which often results in lower survival rates compared to those caught early.
This project is funded by the Northern Cancer Alliance in partnership with Health Innovation North East and North Cumbria. It is part of a wider effort to improve cancer detection across the region and follows national health priorities to help more patients survive longer.
About this article: This story was put together with the help of AI tools and checked by a real person on our team. We're a small crew trying to cover as much of the UK as we can on a limited budget. We're getting better every day - but we're not perfect yet. If something looks off, let us know. You're part of the process.
