The department actively encourages training and continuing professional development for all staff. 

Generic and specialist training is carried out for biomedical scientists, and the department is registered with the Institute of Biomedical Sciences for this purpose.
The department also takes trainee biomedical scientists and other healthcare scientists who require some training in neuropathology in order to complete their portfolios.

Neuropathologists/SpR training Programme

The Health Education South West (HESW) Diagnostic Neuropathology 4- year Training Programme encompasses GMC-approved training centres: the Neuropathology Department at Southmead, Flax Bourton coroner’s Mortuary, and Histopathology departments at Cheltenham General Hospital and Musgrove park. The Programme forms part of the HESW Pathology School.

HESW is responsible for quality assuring the training programme, and both are regulated by the GMC.
The programme is led by a Training Programme Director (TPD), who holds a contract for this work with the Deanery and sits on the Board of the Pathology School. The TPD is Dr Kathryn Urankar. 

Trainees, recruited nationally, hold a contract with North Bristol NHS Trust.

Educational Supervisor is Dr Kathryn Urankar.

Training, delivered according to the curriculum and a learning agreement, includes a series of workplace-based assessments, as dictated by the RCPath.  These, together with Educational Supervisor’s reports, exam results etc, form the evidence submitted by the trainee to HESW on an annual basis for the Annual Review of Competence Progression (ARCP). This process allows the trainee to progress through different years of the programme, according to evidence of their competence, usually in four years. Completion of the programme, including gaining the FRCPath, will lead the successful trainee to a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT). This in turn means the Trainee can apply to join the specialist register of medical practitioners.

BCG treatment for non-invasive bladder cancer

BUI Protocol

Below is the updated version of the BUI Bladder Instillations Protocol

• week 1 - 6         Induction BCG
• week 12             Rigid cystoscopy after induction
• week 14 - 16     Maintenance course 1
• week 22             Flexible cystoscopy 1
• week 26 - 28     Maintenance course 2
• week 34             Flexible cystoscopy 2
• week 48             Flexible cystoscopy 3
• week 50 - 52     Maintenance course 3
• week 58             Flexible cystoscopy 4

Printable version 

Next course date to be confirmed

This one day course, based at the Bristol Urological Institute, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, is aimed at Surgical Care Practitioners and Allied Health Professionals working as robotic first assistants. 

 

 

 

Information about the course

The course offers a mix of lectures, case presentations, opportunities to share experience and hands on practical sessions with the latest Da Vinci robotic system. 

Course Director: Mr Jonathan Aning, Consultant Urological Robotic Surgeon

Fee: £125

For further information please email buicourses@nbt.nhs.uk

The South West Neuromuscular Operational Delivery Network (SWNODN) organises a number of events, courses and peer support sessions each year for patients and their families. Our aim is to equip patients and their families with the knowledge and skills to better manage their condition and improve their quality of life.  The SWNODN also works with a number of partner organisations when possible.  Below is a list of the current events and courses available.

SWNODN Events and Courses for Patient/Public

Independent Living Days

Type of Event: Conference and workshops. Full day.
Who is it for: Adults who have a neuromuscular condition and live in the South West.
Where is it held: Various locations across the South West
What is it about: A conference which provides information and advice to support people in managing their neuromuscular condition and to live as independently as possible.  Covering topics such as finance and benefits, exercise, housing adaptations, assistive technology, employment, psycho-social support, leisure activities, specialist advice and other useful resources available in your area.

Living Well with a Neuromuscular Condition course

Type of Event: Group therapy course (6 weeks). Two and half hour sessions held over six consecutive weeks.
Who is it for: Adults who have a neuromuscular condition living in the South West who are struggling to come to terms with a new or long-standing diagnosis of a neuromuscular condition.  Ideally you should be able to commit to attending all six sessions.
Where is it held: Southmead Hospital Bristol and planned for Devon and Cornwall.
What is it about: A six week course that explores the emotional and physical impact of living with a neuromuscular condition.  Participants are given the opportunity to develop knowledge and skills that can help manage the challenges that their health status can lead to. Covering topics such as the challenges and emotional impact of living with a neuromuscular condition, improving sleep and managing thoughts and feelings, understanding pain, ways to manage fatigue, self-management and goal setting.  Attendance on this course is by invitation only, but please contact us if you think it would be beneficial to you.

 

Muscle Cafes

Type of Event: Peer-led informal social networking meet-ups
Who is it for: Any adult living in the South West who has a neuromuscular condition and is keen to meet up with other people who have a similar condition.
Where is it held: Multiple locations. Organised according to demand - Please let us know if you would be interested in holding a Muscle Cafe in your area.
What is it about: Tea, coffee and cake!  An informal get together that meets the needs of the group.  This can be peer-support and sharing of knowledge, experience and advice.  The Network can provide specialist information, advice or speakers as requested by the group. 

If you think any of the above would be beneficial to you, please discuss it further with your Neuromuscular Advisor or call the SWNODN Bristol office on 0117 4141184.  

 

Other Events provided by partner organisations

Muscular Dystrophy UK hold a number of national meetings and also run Muscle Group meetings around the South West which provide an opportunity for peer support. Our Neuromuscular Advisors often attend the Muscle Group meetings.

The South West Neuromuscular Operational Delivery Network (SWNODN) was formed in 2009 in response to a report entitled Building on the Foundations: The Need for a Specialist Neuromuscular Service across England produced by Muscular Dystrophy UK.  The report highlighted inequalities in the services available to people with a neuromuscular condition and prompted an All Party Parliamentary Group for Muscular Dystrophy to investigate this further. This resulted in Access to Specialist Neuromuscular Care – The Walton Report. 

The Network was originally hosted by the South West Specialised Commissioning Group, but following a reorganisation of the NHS in 2012 the Network hosting arrangements were moved to North Bristol NHS Trust.

Our Mission Statement

In collaboration with our colleagues, NHS partner organisations, and patients, their carers and their families, the SWNODN will recommend and deliver the highest quality clinical and non-clinical support to individuals with a neuromuscular condition. The Network aims to establish centres of excellence across the South West with the guidance of clinical leadership in the field of neuromuscular service provision and with the approval of the SWNODN’s Executive Board and NHS England South commissioners. 

The overall aims of the SWNODN are to:

• Ensure an equitable and accessible service for individuals with a neuromuscular condition, and their families and carers, in the South West;
• Determine a strategic direction for neuromuscular services (including pathways of care) in the South West;
• Plan and develop neuromuscular services, including service configuration, care and treatment pathways (supported by referral policies and procedures) and service specifications (incorporating published Standards of Care and appropriate quality measurements);
• Raise standards of care and support for individuals with a neuromuscular condition, and their families and carers, in the South West;
• Promote the work of the SWNODN and agree a communication strategy with professionals and the public to maximise user involvement;
• Identify and share good practice and common aims across organisations and health communities.

The South West Neuromuscular Operational Delivery Network (SWNODN) team deliver paediatric and adult neuromuscular outpatient clinics across the South West. They also run a number of transition clinics to streamline the transfer from paediatric to adult clinics. The clinics are run by a SWNODN Consultant Neurologist, or Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, who are supported by a Specialist Neuromuscular Advisor and a Specialist Physiotherapist.  A Specialist Clinical Psychologist is available in the adult service. 

As many neuromuscular conditions can affect other organs in the body, the SWNODN Consultants also attend a number of joint specialty clinics across the region where they work in collaboration with other consultants who may specialise in cardiology, respiratory, genetics, for example.  This is to ensure patients get the best quality care in the most convenient location possible, with the correct specialists.

 

Paediatric Clinics

Dr Anirban Majumdar and Dr Archana Murugan, both Consultant Paediatric Neurologists with the Network, run a weekly paediatric neuromuscular clinic in the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.  They also attend other hospitals around the region to either run, or work with a local Paediatrician, to deliver neuromuscular clinics.   

 

The SWNODN Neuromuscular Advisors and Paediatric Neuromuscular Physiotherapists often attend other outpatient clinics run by Paediatricians who have professional links with the Network. 

 

Transition Clinics

Transition clinics form part of the pathway of care between paediatric and adult neurology services. Their purpose is to streamline the process of transferring between the services and support the young adult and their family. The transition clinics are held across the South West.  They are attended by the paediatric and adult Consultant Neurologists, the paediatric and adult Neuromuscular Physiotherapists, a Specialist Clinical Psychologist and a Neuromuscular Advisor.

 

Adult Clinics

Dr Andria Merrison runs a weekly clinic at Southmead Hospital Bristol and delivers an outreach neuromuscular clinic in Gloucestershire.  Dr Clare Wood-Allum runs clinics at Southmead Hospital Bristol one to two times per month and runs regular clinics in Mount Gould Hospital in Plymouth and Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.  Both consultants attend joint clinics with consultants who may specialise in cardiology, respiratory and genetics.

 

Joint Specialty Clinics

The Paediatric and Adult Neurologists all attend clinics where patients can be seen with other doctors who specialise in different areas of medicine, for example, Cardiologists, Respiratory Consultants or Geneticists. This provides a holistic approach to medical care as well as reducing the amount of clinics that patients may have to attend to get this specialist advice in one place. You may also see the Specialist Physiotherapist and Neuromuscular Advisor in these clinics.

We want to support all families to make an informed choice regarding their care, we encourage you to engage with the maternity team and work towards building up a sound relationship in partnership together so that you feel fully supported in your wishes for labour and birth, but also have the support of a healthcare professional in attendance wherever your birth may be. This is to ensure that you and your baby remain safe and well.

If you are considering a Freebirth, whilst we support all women in their informed choices for birth and it is within your rights to do so, we would strongly advise against this. If you are considering a Freebirth, please contact the Birth Choices team via email birthchoices@nbt.nhs.uk

For more information visit www.birthrights.org.uk

If you are referred to the Fetal Medicine Unit for a specialist opinion, information and possibly for further tests please read the following.

Who are we?

We are a small team of Doctors and Midwives who specialise in Fetal Medicine (problems found in the baby before birth). We will try to answer all your questions. Please ask a member of staff to explain anything you do not understand or to discuss anything that happened during your visit(s).

What to expect?

The Fetal Medicine specialist may carry out a detailed ultrasound scan in order to examine the baby. They will then discuss the findings with you and what this may mean.

It is recommended that your partner, a relative or close friend accompany you to provide support. Where possible please do not bring children with you to the appointment. This is recommended so that you can concentrate on what is happening at the appointment.

Please bring your maternity hand held notes with you to your appointment.

How long will my appointment take?

We aim to see you as soon as possible and within 3 working days of a concern being raised. However, there are some instances where we will arrange to see you later than this. This may be dependent upon the reason for the referral. Sometimes it is helpful to have a longer period of time between the scans to assist with interpretation of the scan findings. Some people are also referred to us early in the pregnancy and it is too early for you to be seen. A member of staff will advise you about when you can expect to be contacted / seen.

On occasion we will be asked to see emergency cases within 24 hours of the referral. This can mean re-prioritising our appointment times on a daily basis, although we try to avoid this.

Appointments take variable lengths of time. We try to tailor our counselling and length of visit according to individual needs.

We appreciate that this is a stressful time for you and your family, but sometimes the time of your consultation may be delayed leading to longer waiting times on the day and some consultations may take longer than we anticipated. We apologise for this in advance. Be assured that this does not mean your consultation will be made shorter.

Sometimes it is necessary to refer you to other Hospitals for further assessment or tests.

Who will be present during my scan?

As we are a major teaching hospital there may be several people present during your consultation. These include the Fetal Medicine Specialist, Senior Doctors who are training in fetal medicine, the Midwife who is co-ordinating the clinic that day and occasionally a Student Doctor or Midwife.

Please let us know if you would rather not have extra people present.

What will happen during my visit?

The aim is to provide as much information as possible for you and the professionals involved in your care to plan the ongoing management of your pregnancy.

Specialist tests may be offered as appropriate, with information and full explanation of the risks and benefits given so that you can decide whether you wish to have further tests or not. 

We will arrange with you when and how any further tests will be undertaken and how you will receive any results.

Scan Photography

We electronically store images to aid diagnosis, discuss with other specialists involved in your case and for audit purposes.

As far as possible personal details are restricted to maintain privacy and all images are kept on the fetal medicine unit database.

We are not able to record the scan on DVD for your own personal use but we may be able to provide scan pictures.

National Congenital Abnormality & Rare Diseases Registration Service (NCARDRS)

This department contributes information to NCARDRS (previously the South West Abnormality Register).

This register is

• To increase our understanding of congenital anomalies and help research into their causes, treatment and prevention.
• To look at trends - for example changes in the number of babies born with congenital anomalies, or changes in the pattern of where they are born. Any problems can be investigated.
• To give health professionals information to help them advise families about their chances of having a baby with a congenital anomaly.
• To help plan and develop NHS services.
• To monitor how good antenatal screening tests (blood tests and ultrasound scans) are at picking-up problems.

The NCARDRS leaflet is available to offer further information about this service visit gov.uk.

Location

The Fetal Medicine Unit is located in the Women & Children’s Quarter: 

Southmead Hospital
Cotswold Clinic / Fetal Medicine Unit
Monks Park Way
Bristol
BS10 5NB

Telephone:  0117 4146928    Hours: 9am - 4pm 

Parking is limited so please allow time to find a space. There are pay and display car parks located within the hospital.

Useful Contacts

Antenatal Results & Choices (ARC)

ARC offers non-directive information and support to parents before, during and after antenatal screening; when they are told their baby has an anomaly; when they are making difficult decisions about continuing with or ending a pregnancy, and when they are coping with complex and painful issues after making a decision, including bereavement. For more information for parents please visit the ARC website.

The helpline is answered by trained staff Monday to Friday, 10.00am-5.30pm.

Call 0845 077 2290 or 0207 713 7486 from a mobile.

ARC, 345 City Road, London, EC1V 1LR

Admin telephone: 020 7713 7356

Email telephone: info@arc-uk.org

Meeting an anaesthetist during your pregnancy and delivery

An anaesthetist is a fully qualified doctor with specialist training who you may meet at various points throughout your pregnancy and birth.

At the Antenatal clinic

You may be asked to come to the antenatal clinic to be reviewed by an anaesthetist if you have certain medial conditions which might make giving you an anaesthetic or pain relief more difficult. If so, you will meet a senior anaesthetist who will make a plan with you for your anaesthetic care during your birth. This will be documented in your maternity yellow notes.

You are also welcome to request an anaesthetic review if you have concerns regarding pain relief or anaesthesia that are not able to be answered by your midwife.

On the Delivery Suite

An anaesthetist is present on the delivery suite 24 hours a day. You will meet the anaesthetist if you would like an epidural for pain relief, who will discuss this in detail with you. [see also Pain Relief in Labour section].

Caesarean or assisted birth

If you require a caesarean birth or assisted birth (forceps or ventouse) in the operating theatre or another procedure in theatre you will be cared for by the anaesthetist.

The majority of women who need a procedure in theatre can have this done with a spinal or epidural anaesthetic which requires an injection in the back but allows you to remain awake.

Only occasionally is a general anaesthetic required. Before any procedure you will meet with the anaesthetist and discuss the planned anaesthetic.

On the Postnatal ward

If you have had any anaesthetic procedure then an anaesthetist will visit you on the postnatal ward the following day to ensure you have recovered from your anaesthetic. This may not be possible if you have an early discharge but the midwives will make sure there are no anaesthetic concerns before you go home. If you have any concerns after going home an anaesthetist can be contacted 24hrs a day via the Central Delivery Suite.

Acute illness

Anaesthetists may be involved in your care if you become unwell during your pregnancy or birth, for example with severe infection or bleeding. The anaesthetist is part of the team that will help look after you if this unlikely problem occurs.

GMC Number: 6073334

First year of qualification: 2003, Edinburgh

Specialty: Anaesthesia

Clinical interests: Anaesthesia

Secretaries: Anaesthetic secretaries

Telephone: 0117 414 5114