Urogynaecology
Saint Mary's Hospital
Urogynaecology at Saint Mary's Hospital
Saint Mary's Hospital provides a specialist urogynaecology service for women with bladder problems, vaginal prolapse and bowel control problems. The service sees women from across the North West and accepts referrals from elsewhere in the UK.
Observers and fellows will be based around the Warrell Unit, within the Gynaecology Outpatient Department at Saint Mary's Hospital. The service offers consultant-led assessment and investigation for prolapse, urinary incontinence, voiding dysfunction, recurrent urinary tract infection, bladder pain, haematuria, vesico-vaginal fistula, recto-vaginal fistula, anal incontinence and difficult rectal emptying.
The service works closely with colorectal colleagues and runs joint clinics for women with combined bladder, bowel emptying or control symptoms and vaginal prolapse. Observers and fellows will gain insight into multidisciplinary decision-making, patient-centred assessment and the coordination of specialist pelvic floor care.
The programme is particularly suited to doctors and aspiring clinicians seeking structured exposure to tertiary urogynaecology practice, complex pelvic floor assessment, multidisciplinary clinics, research-informed care and NHS service pathways.
Fellowships and observerships at Manchester Specialist Health Academy provide international clinicians with structured opportunities to experience high quality healthcare training within a leading NHS environment. Both pathways offer consultant oversight, a clear induction, and access to modern clinical settings that support a strong understanding of advanced patient care. Participants are welcomed into a professional community that encourages learning, collaboration, and engagement with the culture of Manchester.
While fellows take part in more in depth clinical development, gaining exposure to subspecialties, procedures and research, observers focus on shadowing and understanding multidisciplinary practice within NHS services. Both groups benefit from involvement in clinics, team discussions, and wider learning activities such as simulation sessions, CPD opportunities, and quality improvement insight.
Academic contributions and awards
The Warrell Unit and associated Manchester urogynaecology team have active clinical research links across pelvic floor disorders, mesh complications and patient-reported outcomes. Recent and relevant publications include:
• Abbas N, Reid F. The management of mesh complications. Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine. 2022;32(11):247-252.
• Abbas N, Virdee T, Basu M, Iles D, Kanitkar S, Kearney R, Ward K et al. Clinical outcomes after total excision of transobturator tape inserted for treatment of stress urinary incontinence. Neurourology and Urodynamics. 2023;42(4):785-793.
• Carter P, Fou L, Whiter F, Delgado Nunes V, Hasler E, Austin C, Macbeth F, Ward K, Kearney R. Management of mesh complications following surgery for stress urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse: a systematic review. BJOG. 2020;127(1):28-35.
• Mahoney C, Hindle A, Rajashanker B et al. MR scan evaluation of pelvic organ prolapse mesh complications and agreement with intra-operative findings. International Urogynecology Journal. 2019;31(8):1559-1566.
• Sentance J, Stocking K, Edmondson RJ, Kearney R. Comparison of two questionnaires to diagnose obstructive defecation syndrome during pregnancy and post-natally. International Urogynecology Journal. 2022;33(11):3129-3136.
Rare and complex cases
- Vesico-vaginal fistula and recto-vaginal fistula assessment and management pathways.
- Complex pelvic organ prolapse and recurrent prolapse presentations.
- Stress urinary incontinence, overactive bladder and difficult bladder emptying requiring specialist investigation.
- Recurrent, chronic or complex urinary tract infection managed through the specialist UTI clinic.
- Anal incontinence, difficult rectal emptying and combined bladder, bowel and prolapse presentations reviewed with colorectal input.
- Mesh complications following surgery for urinary incontinence or vaginal prolapse, including multidisciplinary assessment and treatment planning through the Manchester Mesh Complications Specialist Service.
- Post-partum pelvic floor dysfunction and perineal trauma clinic pathways.
Why Manchester?
Manchester is a city of innovation and progress, renowned as the world’s first industrial city and still leading in science, healthcare, and technology. With excellent transport links and a vibrant, multicultural atmosphere, it offers an inclusive environment for learning and professional growth.
Beyond your placement, Manchester offers something for everyone - from watching the iconic Manchester derby to exploring world-class museums and galleries. With vibrant music, sport, and culture, the city truly has it all. Combining heritage and modernity, it creates a unique setting for personal enrichment and memorable experiences whilst you develop professionally.
Our signature programmes
Observership
Urogynaecology
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Understand the structure and function of a tertiary NHS urogynaecology service, including outpatient, diagnostic, multidisciplinary and surgical pathways.
- Observe consultant-led assessment of urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, recurrent urinary tract infection, bladder pain, fistula and bowel-related pelvic floor symptoms.
- Recognise the role of urodynamics, pelvic floor imaging, outpatient cystoscopy, anorectal physiology and specialist questionnaires in diagnosis and care planning.
- Develop insight into conservative, procedural and surgical treatment options, including how risks, benefits and patient priorities are discussed.
- Observe multidisciplinary working with specialist nurses, colorectal colleagues, pelvic health physiotherapy, pain, psychology, imaging and wider support teams.
- Understand how research, audit and patient-reported outcome measures inform urogynaecology practice.
Eligibility
- The visiting professional must have sufficient English language skills to engage meaningfully in the observership.
Fellowship
Urogynaecology
Objectives
By the end of the placement, the visiting professional should be able to:
- Develop supervised experience in the assessment, investigation and management planning of common and complex urogynaecology presentations.
- Consolidate specialist clinical reasoning across urinary incontinence, voiding dysfunction, prolapse, recurrent urinary tract infection, fistula and combined bladder-bowel pelvic floor symptoms.
- Gain supervised exposure to procedural and surgical pathways.
- Contribute to multidisciplinary case discussion, clinic preparation, documentation, audit, service improvement or research activity.
- Strengthen understanding of NHS governance, consent, patient safety, risk communication and escalation processes in specialist pelvic floor care.
- Build practical knowledge that can support future subspecialty development, service improvement and leadership in urogynaecology services.
Eligibility
- Postgraduate Qualification: Applicants must hold an overseas-recognised postgraduate medical qualification (MD, MS, Masters) in ophthalmology or a relevant specialty.
- Experience: Minimum of 3 years’ recent experience in ophthalmology or a related specialty within the last 5 years, including at least 12 months of continuous practice before applying.
- Training Level: Equivalent to ST5 or above, or post-CCT clinicians seeking subspecialty exposure.
- Language Proficiency: IELTS Academic with 7.0 in each band and overall 7.5, or OET Medicine with Grade B in all domains, with certificate validity within 24 months.
- Registration: GMC registration is required for fellowship activity. Sponsorship support may be available through approved routes where appropriate.
- Applicants must not have failed PLAB exams previously.
- Visa sponsorship is only available through approved routes; self-funded visas outside agreed schemes are excluded.