Our Services A - Z - Gynaecology
About the service
Gynaecology provides extensive inpatient and outpatient services across St Helens and Whiston Hospitals. We have a 19 bedded ward, along with an additional area for hyperemesis (severe vomiting) ladies in the early stages of pregnancy to be cared for. We also provide care within our Gynaecology Assessment Unit (GAU) for patients referred via GP, Emergency Department (A&E) or Walk-in centre.
Patients can also self refer to the GAU if they have accessed our services within the last two weeks.
Our Bleeding in Early Pregnancy Clinic (BEP), which is named the Buchanan Suite, is adjoined to the ward.
We hold outpatients clinics across 3 hospitals, Whiston, St Helens and Newton.
We have a Specialist Services Unit based at St Helens Hospital. Services provided here are; Colposcopy, Vulvoscopy, Hysteroscopy, Post–Menopausal bleeding, Urodynamics and Minor Procedure clinics.
- What is a Colposcopy
This is an examination to check whether there are abnormal cells on your cervix, and if so, how serious they are. It is a follow up to your cervical screening test. Colposcopy usually takes place in an outpatient hospital clinic.
- What is a Vulvoscopy
This is to investigate the problems that you have been experiencing with your vulva. This procedure includes an examination using a colposcope (large microscope) and potentially a biopsy could be taken if required
- What is a Hysteroscopy / Post – Menopausal Bleeding Clinic
This is a rapid access clinic for women experiencing bleeding during the menopause, investigations include ultrasound scan, pelvic examination and patient hysteroscopy.
- What is Urodynamics
This is a special medical test which measures the pressure within your bladder in response to filling and emptying. It is a simple test performed as an outpatient.
- Minor Procedures
Ring pessary and shelf pessary changes. Hormone replacement implants, special injections are all carried out in this clinic
- BEP - (Bleeding and Early Pregnancy Clinic)
This is an appointment only clinic for patients who are in early pregnancy. At this clinic you would be triaged over the telephone by a member of the BEP team, following this consultation you may be asked to attend the hospital for a scan or blood test.
- The Team
Consultant Profiles
Miss Saru Palaniappan
Mr Tennyson Idama
Miss Zoe Boyes
Mr Tim Kundodyiwa
Miss Vicky Cording
Mrs Ria Agass
Mr James Thomas
Miss Caroline Hicks
Ms Claire Stewart
Mrs Susmita PankajaConsultants/Doctors
All clinicians work across Obstetrics and Gynaecology, however some specialise in different fields.
Mr Tennyson Idama - Consultant in Obs & Gynae & Clinical Director
Mr T Kundodyiwa - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Mrs N Srivastava - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Mrs S Rao - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Miss V Cording - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Mrs C Stewart - Consultant Gynaecologist
Ms T Safdar - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Miss Z Boyes - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Mrs A Roberts - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Miss R Agass - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Miss S Palaniappan - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Mrs S Pankaja - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Mr N Phelan - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Miss R Agass - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Mr J Thomas - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Ms C Hicks - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Ms Angharad Bidder - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Mr T Corr - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Ms S Rauf - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Ms A Nevilee - Consultant in Obs & Gynae
Dr L Qureshi - Associate Specialist, Obs & Gynae
Dr A Thomas - Associate Specialist, Obs & Gynae
Gynaecology Nurse Specialists
Debbie Higham - Gynaecology Nurse Specialist
Claire Pearson - Gynaecology Nurse Specialist
Toni Lacey - Gynaecology Nurse Specialist
Caroline Davies - Gynaecology Nurse Specialist
Kate Langley - Gynaecology Nurse Specialist
Helen McHardy - Gynaecology Nurse Specialist
Cheryl Nicholls - Gynaecology Nurse Specialist
Management Support
Anne Stott – Directorate Manager
Jennie Heraty – Gynaecology Matron
- Location/ Contact Information
Ward 3E Gynaecology Suite
Whiston Hospital
Warrington Road
L35 5DR
0151 430 1522Womens Outpatient Department
Whiston Hospital
Warrington Road
L35 5DRGynaecology Outpatient Suite
St Helens Hospital
Marshalls Cross Road
WA9 3DA
Opening Times: Monday to Friday 09.00 to 17.00 hours
Reception: 01744 64631 / 6300BEP (Bleeding and Early Pregnancy Clinic)
Buchanan Suite
Whiston Hospital
L35 5DROpening Times:
Monday to Friday - 09.0000 to 17.00 hours
Saturday - 09.00 to 12.30 hours
Occasional bank holidays - contact clinic direct for times
Reception: 0151 430 1737
Office: 0151 290 4356 - Relevant Leaflets/Documents/Links
Title - Colpocleisis
Description - This operation is an option for the treatment of a large vaginal prolapse. It has a lower complication rate than other alternatives and does not use any plastic mesh. Also, it can be a good choice for women who need to avoid long operations and recovery for health reasons.Title - Colposuspension
Description - To stop leakage of urine, the muscles that make up your urethra (water pipe) and the ones around your bladder neck must be able to tighten under ‘stress-related’ conditions e.g. when you cough, sneeze, exercise or lift heavy items. If you have a weakness of these muscles, you may not be able to tighten them sufficiently to stop urine leaking out. Stress incontinence is common in women after childbirth but can also be seen in women who have not had children. A lack of oestrogen, and the effect ageing may have on you (although this is not a direct cause), can also be contributing factors. If you have a severe cough, like bronchitis, are overweight or if you are constipated the leakage may be worse.Title - Coping and Management of an Incomplete Miscarriage
Description - Miscarriage can be a very frightening, unhappy and lonely experience. It can be even more upsetting when the miscarriage is incomplete and more treatment is needed. The Buchanan Suite staff are here to support you at this difficult time.Title - Endometrial Ablation
Description - Endometrial ablation is the destruction of the uterine (womb) lining in order to treat heavy periods. If medicines do not reduce your menstrual bleeding, then your doctor may suggest endometrial ablation as an alternative to major surgical options, such as hysterectomy.Title - Haematuria (Blood in the urine)
Description - What is Haematuria - This is defined as the presence of blood in the urine. It can be there for a range of conditions from mild inflammation due to a urine infection, up to bladder or kidney cancer. Blood that you can clearly see in your urine is known as “Macroscopic haematuria” – this will need an urgent referral to the urology team to investigate for a bladder cancer once we are sure that it is not coming from the vagina. Blood that you cannot see in your urine but shows up on one of the “urine dip tests” is known as “Microscopic haematuria”. This is much more common and has a wider range of causes.Title - Having Robotic Gynaecological Surgery
Description - Traditionally, the main approaches for gynaecological surgery include keyhole (laparoscopic) or open operations. Robotic surgery is a recent development to enhance surgical outcomes for women with specific conditions. This leaflet explains what you need to know about Robotic Gynaecological Surgery.Title - Laparoscopically Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH)
Description - Hysterectomy is the removal of a woman's uterus (womb) and cervix surgically. An LAVH is the removal of the womb using both keyhole surgery and vaginal surgery. It is performed for a variety of reasons and is a less invasive alternative to open surgery.Title - Overactive Bladder
Description - Many women have symptoms of what is commonly called a “weak bladder”. For some, this means that they cannot hold much urine in their bladder before they must rush to the toilet. It is caused by the bladder muscle suddenly tightening and trying to empty when you do not want it to. If you have an overactive bladder, you will often need to rush to the toilet, pass urine very frequently during the day and wake up several times each night to pass urine too.Title - Painful Bladder Syndrome
Description - Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS) is a condition where the sufferer has a collection of symptoms that have been lasting for more than three months. Over the years, PBS has had a range of names including Interstitial cystitis, Hypersensitive bladder and Hunner’s lesion disease. It is also often mixed up in the diagnosis of recurrent UTI’s because many of the symptoms overlap. Pain symptoms in particular may fluctuate on a day-to-day basis with many women describing having “good and bad days”.Title - Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID)
Description - PID is an inflammation of the pelvic organs. It is an ascending infection that spreads above the vagina and cervix to infect the upper parts of the female reproductive tract – uterus (womb), fallopian tubes, ovaries and pelvic area. If the infection is severe, this can result in a collection of pus (abscess) within the pelvis.Title - Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections
Description - Also known as UTIs, urinary tract infections occur when bacteria pass into the urinary tract (usually the bladder) and increase in number to cause an infection. They can vary in severity from a mild cystitis (stinging or burning feeling when you pass urine) that lasts a couple of days and goes away on its own, to a high temperature and infection that rises into the kidneys and requires admission to hospital with antibiotics through a drip.It is relatively common to get a UTI and it is normal to have one or two mild ones per year. If you have three or more UTIs in a one-year period, then this is classed as “Recurrent UTIs” and requires further investigation and treatment.Title - Sacrospinous Fixation
Description - This leaflet has been written to try and answer questions you might have about sacrospinous fixation, however, it is not intended to replace the personal contact between you and the doctors and nurses. It should be read together with the leaflet about prolapse in which available treatments are described and compared.Title - Stress Urinary Incontinence
Description - What is stress incontinence? This is when someone leaks urine due to an increase in pressure on their pelvic floor. Usually it is due to coughing, sneezing, vomiting and exercise such as lifting, running or jumping. Each leak is usually quite small, however, lots of small leaks can add up to an overall large amount of urine loss, so it can affect women to very different levels depending on their activity levels, job etc.Title - Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy (TLH)
Description - This is a gynaecological surgical procedure performed under general anaesthetic which involves removing the uterus and cervix using a keyhole (laparoscopic) technique and removing it through the vagina. You might also need ovaries/fallopian tubes to be removed, your doctor will discuss this with you.Title - Treatment with Ulipristal Acetate (Esmya)
Description - Esmya is a medicine that helps partially block the progesterone hormone from working on certain tissues in the body. Progesterone is a hormone produced, in part, by the ovaries. In certain circumstances, progesterone can stimulate the growth of fibroids within the uterus (womb). Fibroids are non-cancerous growths of the muscle layer of the uterus. By blocking the progesterone, Esmya can help reduce the size of the fibroids.Title - Vaginal NOTES hysterectomy- (using keyhole surgery to remove your womb vaginally)
Description - This leaflet explains Vaginal NOTES hysterectomy. The aftercare and other general information regarding hysterectomy will be the same as for vaginal hysterectomy that is provided along with this leaflet. NOTES stands for natural orifice trans luminal endoscopic surgery. In this type of hysterectomy, vaginal hysterectomy is performed using keyhole instruments as they improve access and visibility.Title - Vaginal Prolapse Repair
Description - A prolapse of the vagina occurs due to a weakness in the supporting tissues to the vagina. This weakness can cause symptoms of a bulge that appears from the vagina. It is usually worse on straining, walking and lifting. Commonly symptoms are worse in the evening.Title - Word Catheter (Drainage of a Bartholin’s Cyst)
Description - You have been diagnosed with a painful swelling of the Bartholin's gland (cyst). If this has become infected it is called an abscess. A Bartholin’s cyst or abscess has a typical appearance at the entrance to the vagina. No test is needed to make the diagnosis. Normally the glands produce lubrication that enters the vagina. But when the gland becomes blocked it causes a painful swelling. Symptoms may include tenderness, pain, fever, and sometimes discomfort walking or sitting.
Page last updated on 09th May 2024
