Tour of the unit
Contact: (0191) 213 8213 - Reception
Take a tour of the unit and find out about the different areas of the unit and the process involved.
Introduction
Newcastle Fertility Centre was established in 1991 has since developed and expanded and gained the prestigious status it holds today. The Centre moved from the RVI site in 1999 to the Bioscience Centre in the International Centre for Life and was officially opened by Professor Lord Robert Winston on 22nd February 2000. Newcastle Fertility Centre is an NHS facility within the Newcastle Hospitals NHS Trust and is linked with the Royal Victoria Infirmary. The Centre is also closely associated with the leading UK Medical School at Newcastle University and has active research and teaching programmes.
The Newcastle Fertility Centre primarily provides help and support for couples who have problems related to fertility. Most couples in the North East can be seen as NHS patients and we are pleased to receive referrals via your GP. A fee paying service is available for those who are not eligible for NHS funded treatment.
Assisted conception treatment is regulated by the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority which ensures we comply with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act. This requires very detailed written documentation of your consent to treatment and details of the outcome. We have staff dedicated to ensuring that these records are accurate and complete.
The NHS criteria for access to treatment are also complicated and may seem very confusing since they vary depending on where you live. The waiting time for treatment also varies greatly. We will let you know individually if you are eligible for NHS funded treatment and, if you are on the waiting list, we will keep you informed of changes in these waiting times.
Consulting Rooms
All of our clinics take place at the Newcastle Fertility Centre in a relaxed setting away from the bustle of busy general hospitals. The main clinics are held at other times. After treatment, you can come here for the pregnancy test to see if it has been successful.
Andrology Lab
This is the laboratory where all of the sperm tests are carried out We also store sperm here for men who have had cancer treatment.
 |
1) - Computer Assisted Semen Analysis is part of the routine work within the laboratory.
|
| |
|
|
|
2) - Sperm is prepared for freezing by loading it into small pre-labelled straws. |
| |
|
|
|
3) - Straws containing frozen sperm are stored in large Dewars containing liquid nitrogen. |
Ward Area
For women undergoing egg retrieval for IVF we have a comfortable ward area where they wait in a relaxed atmosphere with their partners and recover in their own time following it's completion. The egg retrievals are carried out in the early morning and in most cases you will be ready to go home by early afternoon. You can also rest here briefly after embryo transfer.
Theatres
Our theatre area is designed for egg retrieval and sperm retrieval procedures. It is in close proximity to the to the embryology laboratory so that eggs and sperm can be passed directly to the embryologist. Egg collections are carried out under sedation only, which is the recommended procedure.
You will walk to the theatre from the adjacent ward and be taken back to bed on a trolley afterwards. In the few cases where a general anaesthetic is needed, we take a mobile embryology unit to the main theatre at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI).
Embryology
In this area all of the laboratory processes for IVF and ICSI take place.
Scanning Room
We monitor the growth of your eggs by an internal scan. You may have several scans during your treatment. You do not need a full bladder for this procedure. The routine scanning sessions start at 8am and finish at 11am. Each scan should take no more than 5 minutes and you will be given an appointment so that you do not have a long time to wait.
