Specialities
Happily married with two daughters and a son, in their twenties, Paul is personally familiar with many of the concerns and issues women and couples face. His years of clinical experience, both in the UK and abroad, have deepened his understanding further and have also allowed him insight into other cultures and customs. He fervently believes that each one of his patients is an individual with individual circumstances and treatment needs, and these he aims to address with a sympathetic ear and an open mind in his practice.
Pregnancy Care
Pregnancy and the birth of a new baby are a very special time for every woman and her partner, and it is important that the care given makes it a safe, happy and rewarding experience for mother and child.
These days, with increasing knowledge and ever more sophisticated technology, pregnancy care can begin even before you start trying for a baby. Pre pregnancy counselling and screening is useful to check for various infections or inherited conditions, and to discuss the most appropriate way to reduce any risk factors and achieve optimum health for conception.
No two pregnancies are the same and Paul adopts a flexible approach, taking into consideration his patient's views, concerns and wishes while ensuring the safety of mother and baby at all times. He provides comprehensive antenatal surveillance including fetal monitoring, and a full range of fetal testing using state of the art scanning with full laboratory back up. He offers antenatal appointments at convenient times throughout the week, and is available for additional consultations if necessary. He also works in close collaboration with other highly experienced consultant colleagues such as anaesthetists, paediatricians, dieticians , osteopaths and others where appropriate.
Although most pregnancies progress normally and without problems, Paul understands the need for reassurance, and he is happy to take time for a chat in person or on the phone to allay any worries. More importantly, by drawing on his many years of experience gained from working in teaching hospitals, he is able to swiftly identify and respond to any complications, should they arise.
Keyhole Surgery
Keyhole surgery, also known as minimal access surgery, is an effective modern technique used to perform certain types of operations.
Laparoscopy involves passing a tiny camera and micro instruments into the abdomen through very small incisions, allowing the surgeon to operate whilst viewing the monitor. As the entry points are very much smaller, they heal faster than after conventional surgery. Therefore, this reduces pain and scarring, promotes fast recovery and return to work, which then makes it a much more cost-effective solution for patients.
Another form of minimal access surgery is a hysteroscopy. In this case, the tiny camera is inserted into the womb through the vagina. This is another very effective technique which is, once again, less traumatic than conventional surgery.
Laparoscopy and hysteroscopy can often be used in cases such as fibroids, polyps, ovarian cysts, ectopic pregnancy, heavy periods, endometriosis, sterilisation and various other conditions.
As a highly qualified surgeon with extra keyhole expertise gained from regularly updated high level training programmes in Europe and the USA, Paul can plan the best form of individualised treatment for his patients. He works with highly skilled support staff, using only the most advanced equipment to ensure a quick return to complete health and fitness.
Gynaecology
Women at all stages of life, from early teens to menopause and beyond will experience a variety of hormonal, medical, physical and emotional conditions that require attention and care.
Regular well woman screening, for instance, is essential for early detection of potential problems and should include smear tests, pelvic checks and breast examinations on a yearly basis. Gardasil vaccinations are currently recommended for girls and young women with evidence suggesting that it may protect against cancer of the cervix. Contraception is another important subject for many women and couples, as are the complex issues surrounding unplanned pregnancies. Abnormal, irregular or painful periods can be very distressing and these too can often be resolved. The menopause, its spectrum of symptoms and the many questions they pose, is another matter which needs to be addressed with sensitivity. Advancing years can also bring gynaecological concerns which, with the right approach, can often be alleviated completely.
From routine gynaecological checks to treatment for period abnormalities, pelvic infection, ovarian cysts, fibroids. prolapse, sterilisation or hysterectomy, to name just a few, Paul gives clear, careful and empathetic advice, always taking into consideration his patients' personal views and preferences.
Operations, where necessary, can be scheduled at any of the hospitals Paul works at, all of which offer a comfortable modern environment, highly qualified support staff and state of the art equipment. Paul's extra expertise in keyhole surgery means, that in appropriate cases, the recovery period and any scarring are much reduced.
Miscarriage
Miscarriage occurs in 25% of all pregnancies and can be a devastating event for those affected. Paul's comprehensive research into failed and complicated pregnancies, his doctorate thesis and world-wide lecturing appointments on the subject as well as many years of clinical experience in teaching hospitals, give him a unique level of specialist expertise in this field . He recognises the traumatic impact of miscarriage and the need for answers, as well as offering sympathetic care and treatment.
Many health professionals do not seem to treat miscarriage seriously enough, as to them it is quite a common occurrence. Paul, however, feels that every individual case warrants close investigation to try and establish a cause. In most cases, after careful analysis, he is able to give couples a reason why the miscarriage occurred and what the chances are of it happening again. Happily, most women who suffer a miscarriage do so only once in a lifetime.
Unfortunately, however, some couples have repeated miscarriage problems. In these cases, further specialist tests are important. There are many possible causes for repeated miscarriage and therefore comprehensive individualised investigation and testing of both prospective parents is recommended. This usually results in a treatment plan for the next pregnancy and hopefully, a healthy full term baby. Paul offers a variety of different treatments depending on the underlying cause such as "sticky blood", weakness of the cervix and immune problems including LIT (Lymphocyte Immunisation Therapy).
As the only LIT specialist in the UK, Paul is able to offer this treatment in appropriate cases of repeated miscarriage. Recently, there has also been interest in using it for couples with failed IVF and Paul works closely with a number of IVF clinics. Although LIT is not appropriate in every case and certainly not the only treatment option available, in those cases where it is used, 75% of couples go on to have a successful pregnancy.