Written and Medically Reviewed by Mr Ivo Dukic, Consultant Urologist | Last updated: 09/04/2026

Rapid specialist assessment, cystoscopy and imaging — no GP referral required

If you've ever seen blood in your urine, you may be worried. Blood in urine is also called haematuria. It can sometimes be a sign of a serious medical condition.

Blood in the urine always warrants specialist investigation. If you have seen visible blood in your urine — even once, even without pain — please do not wait.

Appointments: Available within 7 days at The Harborne Hospital, Birmingham, The Priory Hospital, Edgbaston, The Droitwich Spa Hospital, and The Spire Parkway Hospital, Solihull.

Same-day investigations available: Flexible cystoscopy (bladder camera) and CT urogram or ultrasound can often be arranged on the day of your consultation

No GP referral needed: You can self-refer directly

Secretary: 0121 716 9046 — Monday to Friday, 8am–6pm

Consultation fee: £300 · Fee-assured with BUPA, AXA PPP, Aviva, Vitality, WPA, Cigna, AIG and Aetna

What Does Blood in the Urine Mean?

Blood in the urine — known medically as haematuria — is always a symptom that requires specialist investigation. It does not necessarily mean cancer, but it should never be dismissed or left uninvestigated.

There are two types:

Visible blood in the urine (macroscopic haematuria): The urine appears pink, red, brown or the colour of tea or cola. This is visible to the naked eye and is the type that typically prompts patients to seek help urgently. In patients over 45, visible haematuria should be investigated within two weeks under NICE guidance — this same standard applies to private patients seeking rapid access.

Non-visible blood in the urine (microscopic haematuria): Blood is present in the urine but cannot be seen — it is detected on a urine dipstick test, often carried out by a GP during a routine check or for another reason. A single trace reading on a dipstick is not usually clinically significant. Persistent non-visible haematuria in patients over 40, or in younger patients with risk factors (smoking history, recurrent infections, family history), does warrant specialist referral.

What causes blood in the urine (haematuria)?

There are many causes of haematuria, ranging from minor and self-resolving to conditions requiring prompt treatment. The investigation is designed to find the cause, not to assume the worst:

Common causes:

- Urinary tract infection (UTI) — the most frequent cause, particularly in women

- Kidney stones — can cause bleeding as they move through the urinary tract

- Enlarged prostate (BPH) — in men, benign prostate enlargement can cause non-visible or visible haematuria

- Vigorous exercise — can occasionally cause transient microscopic haematuria in otherwise healthy people

Causes requiring investigation:

- Bladder cancer — the most important condition to rule out; presents more often with painless visible haematuria than with pain

- Kidney cancer (renal cell carcinoma) — can present with haematuria, often without other symptoms

- Urothelial cancer of the ureter or renal pelvis — less common but an important diagnosis

- Kidney disease (glomerulonephritis) — a medical rather than surgical cause; requires nephrology assessment in some cases

- Bladder polyps or papillomas — non-cancerous but require monitoring

Important: Bladder cancer is the most common cancer to present with blood in the urine, and it is one of the few cancers where early detection genuinely changes outcomes. Painless, visible blood in the urine — particularly in men over 50 or in smokers — should be investigated promptly regardless of whether other symptoms are present.

What happens at a private clinic for the assessment of blood in the urine in Birmingham?

A private haematuria assessment with Mr Dukic is structured to give you answers as quickly as possible. In most cases, investigation and initial results are available on the same day as your consultation.

Your consultation (30 minutes)

Mr Dukic will take a detailed history — when you first noticed the blood, whether it was painful, whether there are associated urinary symptoms, your smoking history, family history, and any medications you take. This history shapes the investigation pathway.

You will leave the consultation with a clear investigation plan and, in most cases, investigations arranged for the same day or within 48 hours.

Flexible cystoscopy (bladder camera examination)

In patients with visible haematuria aged over 45, a flexible cystoscopy is a standard part of investigations and can usually be performed on the day of your consultation at The Harborne Hospital.

The procedure uses a thin, flexible camera (approximately the same diameter as a urinary catheter) passed through the urethra into the bladder under local anaesthetic gel. It takes 1–2 minutes of active camera time. Mr Dukic reviews the findings with you immediately — there is no waiting several weeks for a letter.

The main temporary side effects are a mild burning sensation when passing urine afterwards and a small risk of urinary tract infection.

Upper tract imaging (kidneys and ureters)

To assess the kidneys and the tubes draining them, Mr Dukic will arrange either:

- CT urogram — the gold-standard imaging for haematuria investigation; gives detailed images of the kidneys, ureters and bladder

- Ultrasound KUB — used in selected patients (e.g. those wishing to avoid radiation, or in younger patients at lower risk)

The choice of imaging is made based on your age, risk factors and clinical presentation.

Results and next steps

If cystoscopy and imaging are normal, Mr Dukic will explain what this means for your individual situation and whether any follow-up monitoring is recommended. If an abnormality is found, he will explain it clearly, discuss the diagnosis, and outline the treatment pathway — including a direct referral to the appropriate specialist if needed.

Who Needs Investigating for Blood in the Urine?

The following groups should seek specialist assessment promptly:

Investigate urgently (within 2 weeks per NICE guidance):

- Any patient aged 45 or over with unexplained visible haematuria — even once, even without pain, even if it has resolved

- Any patient with visible haematuria accompanied by dysuria (burning) or urinary urgency, with no confirmed infection

Investigate after assessment:

- Patients aged 60 or over with unexplained non-visible haematuria

- Younger patients (under 45) with visible haematuria — the risk of bladder cancer is lower but investigation is still required

- Patients with persistent non-visible haematuria and risk factors (smoking, occupational chemical exposures, recurrent infections, family history of urological cancer)

Lower risk — discuss with your GP first:

- A single trace of blood on a urine dipstick in a young woman with no other risk factors — likely a UTI; treat and re-test

- Haematuria clearly associated with a urinary tract infection — retest after treatment to confirm resolution

If in doubt, investigate. The private pathway removes the wait and the uncertainty. A normal cystoscopy and normal imaging is a significant reassurance — never a wasted appointment.

Why Investigate Privately in Birmingham?

The NHS haematuria pathway is well-designed but under significant pressure. Haematuria clinic waiting times vary across Birmingham NHS Trusts and can run to several weeks even under the two-week wait standard.

For a patient with visible haematuria, those weeks can be very difficult.

Private investigation with Mr Dukic offers:

- Assessment within 48–72 hours — (or with one of our partners at the Birmingham Urology Centre)

- Same-day cystoscopy and imaging where clinically indicated — most patients leave with answers on the day

- Immediate results discussion — no waiting for a letter; Mr Dukic reviews cystoscopy findings with you in real time

- Continuity — you see Mr Dukic at every appointment, not a rotating clinic team

- No GP referral required — you can self-refer directly

If investigations are reassuringly normal, you will know that by the end of your appointment. If further management is needed, Mr Dukic will coordinate this — including onward referral to specialist oncology or nephrology colleagues if indicated.

Book a Private Haematuria Assessment in Birmingham

Phone: 0121 716 9046 — Monday to Friday, 8am–6pm

Email: admin@ivodukic.co.uk

Online booking — The Harborne Hospital (HCA Healthcare):

[Book via HCA →]

Online booking — The Priory Hospital (Circle Health) and The Droitwich Spa Hospital (Circle Health):

[Book via Circle Health →]

You do not need a GP referral. If you are insured with BUPA, AXA PPP, Aviva, Vitality, WPA, Cigna, AIG or Aetna, please obtain a pre-authorisation code from your insurer before booking. Mr Dukic is fully fee-assured with all of these providers.

Initial consultation fee: £300

Frequently Asked Questions

I've seen blood in my urine — how worried should I be?

Blood in the urine is always a symptom that deserves investigation, but it does not automatically mean cancer. The most common cause is a urinary tract infection, and kidney stones are another frequent cause. However, bladder cancer — which is very treatable when caught early — can present as painless visible haematuria, which is why investigation should not be delayed. The most important thing you can do is be seen promptly rather than waiting to see if it resolves.

Do I need a GP referral to see a private urologist about blood in my urine?

No. You can self-refer directly by calling 0121 716 9046 or booking online. A GP letter is welcome if you have one (it helps provide context and prior test results), but it is not required.

How quickly can I be investigated for blood in my urine privately?

Mr Dukic aims to see patients presenting with haematuria within 48–72 hours. Same-day flexible cystoscopy and imaging can be arranged in most cases at The Harborne Hospital, Birmingham.

What investigations will I need?

For visible haematuria in patients over 45, the standard investigation is a flexible cystoscopy (bladder camera examination) plus upper tract imaging — usually a CT urogram. Both can normally be completed at the same appointment. For non-visible haematuria or lower-risk presentations, the investigation pathway is tailored to your individual risk profile.

Does the bladder camera procedure (cystoscopy) hurt?

A flexible cystoscopy is performed under local anaesthetic gel and takes 1–2 minutes of active camera time. Most patients experience mild discomfort or pressure rather than pain. Mr Dukic will review the findings with you immediately after the procedure — there is no delay waiting for results.

What if the investigation finds something?

If an abnormality is identified, Mr Dukic will explain the finding clearly, discuss what it means, and outline the next steps. This may include a biopsy (for suspected bladder lesions), further imaging, or a referral to a specialist oncology or nephrology team. You will not leave the appointment without a clear plan.

What if everything is normal?

A normal cystoscopy and normal imaging is genuinely reassuring. Mr Dukic will explain what the normal findings mean for your situation and whether any follow-up monitoring is recommended. Many patients with haematuria have no serious underlying cause — knowing this is the outcome of your appointment is a significant relief.

How much does a private haematuria investigation cost in Birmingham?

The initial consultation is £300. Investigation costs (cystoscopy, CT, ultrasound) depend on the hospital and your insurance status — these are discussed transparently at or before your consultation. If you hold valid insurance with BUPA, AXA PPP, Aviva, Vitality, WPA, Cigna, AIG or Aetna, Mr Dukic is fully fee-assured, and you pay nothing beyond your excess.

Schedule an appointment to discuss your risk if you have had non-visible blood or visible blood in the urine.

Mr Ivo Dukic is an experienced Consultant Urologist who regularly investigates patients with blood in their urine. You can schedule an appointment with him for expert, bespoke advice through his Top Doctors profile or book an appointment through Harborne Hospital, HCA Healthcare, the Priory Hospital, Edgbaston, Circle Health Group or Droitwich Spa, Circle Health.

Have any questions?

If you have any questions or wish to make an appointment please get in contact.