If you are unable to attend your gynaecology outpatient appointment, please contact us as soon as possible on 01284 713713 or email gynaesecretaries@wsh.nhs.uk to cancel or rearrange, to help ensure appointments are available for those who need them.
The gynaecology department at West Suffolk Hospital provides a comprehensive, consultant-led range of general and specialised services to women with gynaecological disorders.
On this page
- Abortion services
- Benign gynaecology service
- Colposcopy
- Early pregnancy assessment service
- Gynaecology oncology
- Urogynaecology
- Vulval clinic
- Gynaecology information and support
Abortion services
If you wish to make an appointment to discuss an abortion, please call 01284 713235 with details of your last menstrual period and when you first had a positive pregnancy test. We should then be able to make you an appointment to discuss things further.
If we think that your pregnancy may be too advanced for us to offer you help in our department we may direct you to another service.
If we offer you an appointment in our clinic, you will be given a telephone clinic appointment or a face-to-face appointment, with either a doctor or nurse, or both. During this appointment the nurse or doctor will assess your case and discuss what options are available to you. Making an appointment does not mean that you have to go ahead with an abortion.
If you feel you need more assistance immediately, please contact British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) on 0345 730 4030.
Patient information, support and other resources for abortion services can be found on the early pregnancy section of our gynaecology information hub.
Benign gynaecology service
We see patients with a range of gynaecological symptoms; these include menstrual disorders (heavy, painful, irregular or absent vaginal bleeding), pelvic pain (including endometriosis), ovarian cysts, menopause, recurrent miscarriage and adolescent gynaecology. We work closely with the chronic pain team, the radiology department and the colorectal and urology teams.
General contact: gynaesecretaries@wsh.nhs.uk
- Mr David Ross: 01284 712560
- Miss Gemma Brierley: 01284 712560
- Dr Vincent Boama: 01284 712560
- Miss Clare Badley: 01284 712518
- Miss Sonal Grover: 01284 712560
- Mr Subhadeep Roy: 01284 712518
- Miss Laura Minns: 01284 712518
- Mr Amr Moneib: 01284 713405
Patient information, support and other resources can be found on our gynaecology information hub, where you will be able to access information about many benign gynaecology conditions such as endometriosis, menopause, fibroids, pelvic pain and heavy menstrual bleeding.
Colposcopy
Our Trust has a dedicated colposcopy clinic (Spencer Suite) where we see patients referred for abnormal smears. Colposcopy is a simple procedure used to look at the cervix (neck of the womb) and vagina.
Sometimes a biopsy helps to determine if further treatment is necessary and sometimes, we treat at the first visit. It is recommended someone is there to drive you back home.
We may be seeing you in this clinic because of abnormal:
- cervical smear
- post-coital bleeding
- appearance of your cervix
You may be referred to us by:
- Direct referral via the cytology laboratory.
- General practitioners
- Genito-urinary medicine clinics
- Family planning clinics
- Other hospital consultants (within and outside the Trust)
- Other gynaecology clinics / wards / theatre /antenatal
Contact is via colposcopy secretary Sarah Amos: 01284 712699
If you are unable to attend your colposcopy appointment, please contact us as soon as possible on 01284 712702 to cancel or rearrange, to help ensure appointments are available for those who need them.
Colposcopy team
- Ms. Michelle Judd, lead colposcopist (consultant gynaecologist)
- Dr Clare Badley (consultant gynecologist)
- Mrs Rukhsana Mohammad – deputy lead (consultant gynaecologist)
- Ms. Elizabeth Prior (consultant gynaecologist)
- Mrs Malini Prasad (consultant gynaecologist)
- Mrs Barkha Sinha (consultant gynaecologist)
Early pregnancy assessment service
The Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) is a specially designated area for looking after and dealing with problems early in your pregnancy.
The EPAU provides appointments for review and ultrasound scan for those experiencing pain or bleeding in early pregnancy and those who have experienced previous recurrent miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.
Referral to EPAU is usually via your GP or midwife or via the emergency department. Women who have had a previous ectopic pregnancy can contact the department to arrange an appointment from six weeks into a new pregnancy.
Phone: 01284 713143
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 4.00pm
Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (EPAU) contacts
- Julie Ingham – ward manager
- Miss Gemma Brierley – lead gynaecology consultant for EPAU
EPAU is based in the gynaecology unit on F14, on the first floor of West Suffolk Hospital.
Gynaecology oncology
Our aim is to diagnose or rule out gynaecological cancers (womb, cervical, ovarian, vulval, vaginal, peritoneal) as quickly as possible, so that the treatment can be initiated in the shortest possible time.
Our team makes sure that we communicate with the patients and families appropriately and sensitively, providing them support and respect their wishes at the same time.
We run rapid access clinics and also offer a consultant delivered clinic. Investigations and biopsies are often performed if needed at these appointments.
We may be seeing you in this clinic because of:
- Abnormal bleeding – postmenopausal bleeding; bleeding between your periods
- Vaginal or vulval lumps or ulcers
- Ovarian cysts
- Abdominal distension
- Any other worrying symptoms that may mean a cancer is suspected
You may be referred to us by your GP or other clinicians in the Trust.
Once the team receive your referral, it will be vetted by one of our experienced clinical nurse specialists. You will either be sent an appointment for an ultrasound scan, or an appointment with a consultant. If you have a scan, you will be seen for the scan, go home, and once the nurses have the report they will either call you to discuss the results, or they will arrange for you to be seen in clinic by a consultant.
The appointments with the consultant usually involve discussion about your symptoms and results and if needed it may be suggested that you have further investigations such as a biopsy - which can be performed in clinic on the day, or during an operation on another day. The consultant will discuss results with you and agree a plan for investigation and treatment.
All results are discussed at our weekly multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings with the radiologists and pathologists. Some cases also need discussion with the regional MDT at the Cancer Centre at Addenbrookes Hospital.
Consultant gynaecologists
- Mrs Malini Prasad – cancer lead
- Ms Elizabeth Prior
- Mrs Barkha Sinha
- Mr Amr Moneib
Cancer nurse specialists (CNS)
- Jo Kent
- Ms June Roebuck
- Lisa Patterson
To contact the gynaecology oncology CNS team please call 01284 713154
Medical secretary
- Cathy Dawson – 01284 713151
We are located within the antenatal and gynaecology clinic area on the first floor of West Suffolk Hospital. Gynaecology scans are provided in the same area. Patients may need to go to pathology lab for blood tests on the ground floor and to the radiology department for further imaging as required.
Urogynaecology
Our urogynaecology team provides a wide range of subspecialist services. We treat women with a wide variety of forms of incontinence and prolapse.
Our subspecialist team is trained to perform the diagnostic tests required and to formulate and carry out the necessary management plans including surgery. We work as part of a multidisciplinary team which includes our surgeons, specialist nurses, women’s health physiotherapists, urologists and colorectal surgeons.
Services provided:
- Initial assessments
- Specialised diagnostic tests like urodynamics and cystoscopy
- Conservative treatments including bladder retraining and pelvic floor muscle training
- Pessary fittings
- Surgical management for prolapse and incontinence
Consultant gynaecologists
- Ms Maria Vella
- Mr Peter Harris
- Ms Rukhsana Muhammed
Clinical nurse specialist
- Ellie Stewart
To contact the team, please call the medical secretary, Mrs Emma Jones on 01284 713469
Vulval clinic
This is a multidisciplinary service involving gynaecologists, dermatologists and genito-urinary medicine specialists to provide comprehensive care in one stop clinics.
You may be seen by one or more consultants during your visit depending on your symptoms. Biopsies may be carried out if required and clinical photographs taken for your medical records to monitor progress.
We may be seeing you in this clinic because of:
- Vulval symptoms like soreness, itch
- Vulval lump or irregular skin
- Vulval pain – Vulvodynia
You may be referred by your GP or other clinicians within the hospital.
- Mrs Malini Prasad – consultant gynaecologist
- Dr Clare Badley – consultant gynaecologist
- Dr Nevianna Bordet – consultant dermatologist
- Dr Sarah Edwards – consultant GU physician
- Ms Elizabeth Prior – consultant gynaecologist
To contact the team, please call the medical secretary, Cathy Dawson on 01284 713151
Please see patient information and resources on the vulval conditions section of our gynaecology information hub.
Gynaecology information and support
- Abdominal gynaecology surgery - post operative information
- Abortion services at West Suffolk Hospital
- Anterior vaginal wall repair (without use of mesh)
- Atrophic vaginitis genitourinary syndrome of the menopause - GSM
- Autologous fascial sling to treat stress urinary incontinence
- Bartholins Cyst
- Bartholin's cyst or abscess treatment
- Bladder re-training - treatment for urgency and urge incontinence
- CIN 2 surveillance - active surveillance of CIN 2
- Colpocleisis (closing the vagina to treat prolapse)
- Colposcopy information
- Colposuspension for stress urinary incontinence
- Complications following urogynaecology surgery
- Contraception
- Dermovate cream
- Early Pregnancy Assessment
- Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit - ongoing pregnancy advice
- Ectopic pregnancy
- Endometrial biopsy
- Endometrial hyperplasia
- Enhanced recovery programme in gynaecology
- Fluids and your bladder
- Genetic testing for Lynch syndrome
- Glandular abnormalities of the cervix
- Gynaecology - post treatment surveillance
- Gynaecology – post ultrasound information
- Gynaecology rapid access information
- Having your catheter removed - trial without catheter (TWOC)
- Humanpapilloma virus (HPV) and cervical screening
- Hysterectomy
- Hysterectomy for endometrial cancer
- Hysterectomy repair - discharge information after abdominal surgery
- Hysteroscopy - as an outpatient
- Hysteroscopy - discharge information for patients having dilatation and curettage
- Hysteroscopy - general anaesthetic
- Imiquimod (Aldara) for the treatment of vulval intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN)
- Information about Ward F14 and hospital facilities
- Information about your condition - gynaecology
- Information for parents who experience pregnancy loss
- Intrauterine pregnancy of uncertain viability (IPUV)
- Laparoscopic sterilisation
- Laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy
- Laparoscopy and dye (day surgery)
- Laparoscopy Gynaecology Clinic
- Laparotomy for gynaecological problems
- Large Loop Excision of the Transformation Zone (LLETZ)
- Large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) - post procedure advice
- Low grade dyskaryosis
- Management of miscarriage - your options
- Management of pregnancy of unknown location (PUL)
- Medical termination - discharge advice
- Medical termination of pregnancy during COVID times
- Miscarriage - medical management
- Miscarriage - surgical management
- Myosure hysteroscopic procedure
- Nocturia - getting up at night to pass urine
- Obesity - effect on the pelvic floor
- Overactive bladder - advice for people who just 'cannot hold on'
- Paracentesis
- Pelvic floor exercises and general advice
- Permanent record of gynaecology consultation
- Pessary - having a pessary for vaginal prolapse
- Physiotherapy following gynaecology surgery
- PIFU - for patient follow up care for vulval clinic (PIFU)
- PIFU - for patients seen in the benign gynaecology clinic
- PIFU - for patients seen in the urogynaecology clinic
- Polypectomy - having a cervical polypectomy
- Posterior vaginal wall repair (without use of mesh)
- Prolapse - information about your prolapse
- Punch biopsy - gynaecology
- Referrals to Gynaecology and Colposcopy Clinic
- Sacrospinous fixation for prolaps of the uterus (womb) or prolaps of the vaginal vault (top of vagina)
- Smear tests after hysterectomy
- Support information for women following pregnancy termination
- Termination of pregnancy (VTOP) under general anaesthetic
- Total laparoscopic hysterectomy
- Transcervical Resection of Endometrium (TCRE) - pre-operative advice
- Urethral bulking to treat stress urinary incontinence
- Urodynamic test - having a urodynamic test
- Urogynaecology Bladder Diary
- Vaginal hysterectomy for uterine prolapse
- Vulva - care of vulval skin
- Vulval biopsy
- Vulval Clinic
- Vulval intraepithelial neoplasia
- Woodland Burials