9 December 2024

This is a one day course and will be run face to face at Southmead Hospital, Bristol. The course reviews urodynamics (UDS) quality and trace interpretation based on patient cases, and gives updates on urodynamic practice.

Intended delegates:  doctors, nurses and/or technicians who have previously attended a Bristol or other ‘approved’ urodynamic course, and who would like a refresher course. Delegates will be encouraged to submit their own urodynamic traces for discussion.

This course is recognized by the United Kingdom Continence Society (UKCS) for recertification in urodynamics.

Learning Points:

• revision of the basic physical principles behind UDS
• development of interpretation skills of urodynamic traces
• ability to recognise full range of artefacts seen during UDS, and the knowledge of how to correct them
• case based discussion of the role of UDS in investigating children, women, men and neurological patients

Course Director: Mr Andrew Gammie
Course Administrator: Karen Evely

For further information or to apply for the course please contact buicourses@nbt.nhs.uk

Current Research 

NEUROSAFE PROOF: investigating the NeuroSAFE technique for nerve sparing in radical prostatectomy.

About the Project
Radical prostatectomy is a complex surgical procedure to remove the prostate because of cancer. In this procedure damage to the nerves which run in the outer coverings of the prostate commonly causes erectile dysfunction (usually permanent) and urinary incontinence (usually temporary). NeuroSAFE is a technique developed in Germany to promote safe nerve sparing. This technique involves, during the operation, an examination of the prostate under a microscope by a pathologist to see whether prostate cancer is near the nerves surrounding the prostate. If it is not, the nerve is left in place. If it is, the cancer cells are removed. We plan to evaluate whether using NeuroSAFE is effective. This trial will evaluate whether men are prepared to be randomised between treatment groups, to see whether we can teach the procedure to a level of competence that randomisation is possible at other NHS centres. The ultimate objective will be to evaluate, through a large scale multicentre randomised controlled study, the effects of use of the NeuroSAFE procedure in terms of potency, urinary continence, quality of life as well as cancer control and the need for extra treatment with radiotherapy.

PRIMUS: Development and validation of a diagnostic and decision-making aid for the treatment of men with bothersome lower urinary tract symptoms.

About the Project
Many men, as they get older, experience problems passing urine. They may need to pass urine more frequently than usual, find their sleep interrupted by having to go to the toilet during the night, notice a change in their flow rate when they urinate or may experience loss of bladder control. These problems are grouped into what we call Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS). These symptoms can be unpleasant, can impact on work and social life, and may prompt a visit to a GP for consideration of treatment. In one of our first joint collaborations between primary and secondary care, the aim of the PriMUS study is to create a decision aid to help GPs find the most likely cause of patients’ urinary symptoms, so that together they can choose the best treatment. We believe that this will have many benefits such as getting the right treatment sooner, avoiding unnecessary hospital visits, and getting those who need to be seen by a specialist there more quickly.

PROTEUS: Investigating the effect of Apalutamide in conjunction with androgen deprivation therapy (also known as ADT or Hormone Therapy) on results of radical prostatectomy surgery and time taken for prostate cancer to progress, in men with locally advanced prostate cancer.

About the Project
The purpose of this study is to see if Apalutamide either used alone or combined in tablet with abiraterone acetate and prednisone, plus androgen deprivation therapy (also known as hormone therapy/ADT), is safe and could improve the results of surgery and delay the time it takes for prostate cancer to spread to other parts of the body in patients with localised and locally advanced high-risk prostate cancer who are planned for radical prostatectomy (RP). All participants in this study will get Androgen Deprivation Therapy (ADT) prior and after the RP surgery. This treatment is not considered standard of care which means that it is a therapy that you normally would not receive outside of a clinical trial and it has not been proven to benefit patients. In this study, ADT is a gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists. GnRH agonists are drugs that lower the production of androgens (male hormones) in your body. Prostate cancer cells usually require androgens, such as testosterone, to grow. You will be randomised into one of two treatment groups, both receiving ADT but only one receiving the study drug apalutamide.

PURSUIT: A randomised, controlled trial to compare endoscopic and surgical management of recurrent stress urinary incontinence in women.

About the Project
We do not know whether endoscopic bulking injections or surgery is the best treatment for recurrent SUI in women who have had an operation for it already. The PURSUIT study aims to find out which treatment is better for improving women’s symptoms and quality of life. We will look at side effects of each treatment for three years post-procedure.

Trials in follow up

POUT:  Comparing peri-operative chemotherapy and surveillance in upper tract urothelial cancer.

RADICALS: Evaluating radiotherapy and androgen deprivation in combination after local surgery.

SORCE: Comparing Sorafenib with placebo in patients with resected primary renal cell carcinoma at high or intermediate risk of relapse.

PURE: Evaluating clinical effectiveness of surgical interventions  or stones in the lower pole of the kidney: percutaneous nephrolithotomy, flexible ureterorenoscopy and lithotripsy.

ADD-ASPIRIN:  assessing the effects of aspirin on disease recurrence and survival after primary therapy in common non-metastatic cancers.

UKGCPS: Identifying genes which suggest a predisposition to prostate cancer developing.

GMC Number: 4355807

Specialty: Gynaecology

GMC Number: 6055311

Year & location of first qualification: 2002 University of London (St Mary's)

Specialty: Anaesthesia

Clinical interests: Anaesthesia and Intensive care medicine

Secretary: Mrs Helen Pearce

Telephone number: 0117 414 5114

Dr Lorna Burrows qualified at St Marys Hospital, University of London. She trained in London, Bristol, Cambridge and Australia. She has been a consultant at North Bristol NHS Trust since 2015.

Dr Lorna Burrows is a member of MBBS BSc (Hons) MRCP FRCA FFICM
PG Dip (Medical management and leadership)

GMC Number: 6055129

Year of first qualification: 1998, Mysore University, India

Specialty: Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Clinical interests: Urinary Incontinence, Urodynamics, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery and General Gynaecology.

Secretary: Emma Thompson

Telephone: 0117 414 6751

Mr Chendrimada Madhu is a Subspecialist Urogynaecologist and the lead for Urogynaecology at Southmead Hospital, Bristol. The unit has been recently accredited by the British Society of Urogynaecology (BSUG) for the high standards of care. He is also the lead for gynaecology risk management.

He did his training in obstetrics and gynaecology in the Yorkshire and the East of England Deaneries. He has completed the subspecialty training in Urogynaecology (RCOG accredited Fellowship in Urogynaecology) from the Severn and Peninsula Deaneries and was appointed as a consultant at North Bristol NHS Trust in 2015.

He is a member of the International Continence Society (ICS), British Society of Urogynaecologists (BSUG) and the International Urogynaecological Association (IUGA).

He has a special interest in medical education and was awarded an MA in Medical Education from the University of Bedfordshire. He is also a Fellow of the Higher Education academy.

GMC Number: 4518190

Year of first qualification: 1998, St Bartholomews & the Royal London School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of London

Specialty: Urology

Clinical interests: Urinary Incontinence, Nocturia, Overactive Bladder Syndrome, Benign Prostate Enlargement and Benign Prostate Diseases, Neuro-urology, Pelvic Organ Prolapse, Urodynamics, Pelvic Reconstruction, General Urology

Secretary: Ann Howie

Telephone: 01174145008>

Prof. Hashim is a world-renowned Functional Urological Surgeon and Honorary Professor of Urology. He is one of a handful of surgeons around the country who can offer all forms of treatments for stress urinary incontinence, including non-mesh surgery, and urgency incontinence, including neuromodulation. He is also fellowship trained in prolapse and reconstructive surgery and can offer several forms of treatment for conditions affecting the bladder, prostate and urethra. He receives referrals from urologists, gynaecologists and general practitioners from Bristol and the South West as well as nationally and internationally. He is also director of the busiest urodynamics unit in the country, with an international reputation. He has trained several surgeons, from the UK and across the world, on urological surgical techniques and urodynamics, has over 190 publications and has lectured across the world.

In 2019 North Bristol NHS Trust, alongside University Hospitals Bristol and Weston, declared a climate and ecological emergency and set an ambitious goal to be net zero carbon by 2030.

ICS organisations have come together to develop the ICS Green Plan - a joint strategy outlining how we will achieve net zero, improve the quality of the natural environment and use our resources efficiently to protect the health of our patients, staff and community.

Sustainable Development Policy Statement

We have adopted a Sustainable Development Policy. Download our Sustainable Development Policy statement:

Travel Plan

The Trust has committed to reduce the impacts from our travel and transport services. The Trust’s Travel Plan 2019-2023 outlines our progress so far and the journey ahead in providing a safe, accessible and sustainable hospital for staff, patients, visitors and the local community.

Download:

Biodiversity Management Plan

The Trust has committed to protect and enhance the environment, maximise access to the natural environment for the benefit of health and wellbeing and the prevention of avoidable illness and adapt our sites ready for a changing climate.  The Trust’s Biodiversity Management Plan (BMP) outlines how we plan to achieve this, making the most of our green spaces onsite, for both people and wildlife.
Download:

BNSSG Climate Change Adaptation Plan

In partnership with our NHS colleagues across Bristol North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG), we’ve published the UK’s first region-wide adaptation plan.

The impacts of climate change on our health, services, infrastructure and our ability to cope with extreme weather events will place significant additional demands on the NHS in the future. This adaptation plan highlights the climate change risks we face as a healthcare system and emphasises the importance of working in partnership across the region to ensure our Estate Strategies are robust and enable system-wide resilience. By ensuring our region is resilient to the effects of climate change, we will achieve cost and carbon savings and contribute to the prevention of avoidable illness to achieve a healthier future together.

Healthier Together BNSSG ICS Green Plan

North Bristol NHS Trust is aligned with the Healthier Together BNSSG ICS Green Plan which acts as the Trust’s sustainability strategy. The plan sets out how we will meet the health and care needs of our communities today and in the future. It focuses on delivering three key outcomes for our population: 

• Improving our environment to create a cleaner, safer, more ecologically resilient environment
• Achieving net zero carbon by 2030 across all of our scope emissions
• Generate a BNSSG-wide movement, supporting a cultural change amongst citizens and businesses through our role as a local anchor institution.

Green Plan 2022–2025

Safe and Sustainable Waste Management Policy 

Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice

In October 2024 we became the first NHS Trust to sign the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice. Developed by the UK research and innovation sector, the voluntary concordat represents a shared ambition for the UK to continue delivering cutting-edge research, but in a more environmentally responsible and sustainable way.

This letter, signed by NBT CEO Maria Kane, publicly acknowledges our commitment to the aims of the Concordat:

The Wheelchair Repair Service provides free of charge repairs and maintenance to any NHS issued wheelchair and associated equipment.

Repairs and services can be carried out at your home address, place of work, school or day centre.

Many Wheelchairs are subject to an annual planned preventative maintenance check and this will normally be arranged with you at a mutually convenient time and place.

Some specialist wheelchairs and seating units may be subject to a delay in repairs where stock parts may not be available and have to be ordered from the manufacturers. However, we will always try to ensure an interim repair is undertaken to provide safe ongoing use and have access to a limited range of loan wheelchairs for use while a chair is being repaired, by offering the closest chair match.

Standard repairs are attended within 5 days of the call, priority calls within 1 day.

We will also attend for an emergency breakdown at weekends, these will be within 1 day. Out-of-hours repairs at the weekend are subject to qualifying criteria; which includes (but not limited to):

• If you’re on your own (solo),
• If you cannot get to toileting, food, safety
• Breakdown away from home within service area (please note this is a repair service only)

If in doubt, please call your relevant out-of-hours service and you will be advised accordingly. We do not operate a weekday out-of-hours emergency service, however if you do require support please telephone the relevant number and leave your name and contact information on the answerphone and we will get back to you as soon as possible. Alternatively you can use our 'Report a wheelchair fault' online form.

Non-emergency standard Wheelchair repairs

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 8.30am-4.30pm
Friday 8am-4pm
Telephone: 03004217093

>> Request a wheelchair repair

Emergency Wheelchair repairs

Saturday and Sunday 8.30am-4pm
Telephone: 07720 353990 and leave all your details including a contact telephone number on the answerphone.