Flow tests
On the day of your appointment, drink approximately 2 pints of fluid before you come to the clinic, in order to have a successful test. If you cannot manage this, arrive around 20 minutes early for your appointment, and water/ squash will be provided for you to drink.
If you normally take diuretics (water tablets), please take them as normal on the day of the clinic. If this is likely to cause you problems, bring them with you. You can take them when you arrive at the clinic.
The clinic nurse will then ask you to do some urine flow tests. The flow test involves passing urine (peeing) into a special toilet that measures the flow. You will be left in private to do this.
After you have passed urine into the flow toilet, the clinic nurse will do a bladder scan to find out whether you have completely emptied your bladder. This is painless, and involves passing an ultrasound probe over your tummy to get a reading.
Due to the nature of the appointment, if you would like a chaperone present please tell the clinic nurse.
Some patients will need a further test, so will need to stay longer in the department.
Other appointments
You may have an appointment booked to see a Urology doctor on the same day as your appointment for your flow test. This will be in Quantock Outpatients department, on the ground floor.
If you do have an outpatient appointment on the same day, Quantock Outpatients will be aware of this. They know that flow tests can sometimes take a while to complete, so will not worry if you are late for the doctor’s appointment.
Transport
You will be able to drive both before and after the appointment. If you cannot use your own or public transport, please ask a relative or a friend to bring you. Your GP can only order hospital transport for medical reasons.
How to find us
Follow the signs from the main entrance of the hospital to the first floor of the Jackson-Barstow Wing. There are signs to the Urology Department within the wing.
General information
Parking and public transport
Parking for Blue Badge holders is free; other spaces are pay-on-exit. Please ensure you have a valid payment card or plenty of change with you.
A regular bus service runs to Weston General Hospital.
Infection control
Help us prevent the spread of infection while in the hospital. Please make sure your hands are clean. Wash and dry them thoroughly, and/or use the hand gel provided.
If you have been unwell in the last 48 hours, please consider whether your visit is essential.
Other means of communication
If you need this leaflet in another format, please contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 0117 414 4569.
© North Bristol NHS Trust. This edition published March 2026. Review due March 2029. NBT003859