OBSTETRICS & GYNAECOLOGY (O&G)

The department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) offers comprehensive services at both Ipswich and Colchester sites providing emergency 24/7 treatment for pregnant and nonpregnant women. This also includes a comprehensive elective service managing antenatal, gynae-oncology and fertility.

Ipswich

Ipswich O&G department facilities learning for a large number of trainees. There are currently 10 specialty registrars and nine core trainees. In addition, there are several foundation doctors and GP trainees. Ipswich is a busy District General Hospital (DGH) with around 4000 deliveries per annum. There is a large dedicated obstetrics and gynecology building with 3 theatres, 1 labour ward, 1 gynaecology ward and 1 post-natal ward. There is also a same-day gynae-assessment unit.

Training Opportunities

There are extensive training opportunities in open, laparoscopic and robotic surgery techniques. The department offers specialist services in minimal access surgery, gynaeoncology and urogynaecology. In addition, Ipswich hospital is one of the few hospitals in the East of England that has a very busy gynae-oncology center.

The state of art ICENI centre allows for training in laparoscopic hysterectomy and laparoscopic myomectomy, ovarian cystectomy excision of endometriosis and salpingotomy which is reinforced by live theatre sessions.

The department has invested heavily in high fidelity dry and wet lab hysteroscopic models and instruments. It also has augmented reality laparoscopic trainers with metrics for feedback regarding progress and learning.

There are training opportunities in fetal anomaly scanning, first trimester scanning, management fetal growth disorders and maternal and fetal doppler. Including exposure to invasive techniques in fetal medicine, advanced fetal imaging and fetal echocardiography.

There are a wide variety of outpatient clinics available including antenatal, gynaeoncology, fertility, termination of pregnancy, post-menopausal bleeding, colposcopy and menopause.

Ipswich Hospital runs a several national research projects which trainees are encouraged to participate in. Every trainee is also assigned a quality improvement project for which supervision is provided.

There is weekly department teaching that includes journal club once a month. In addition, there are perinatal M&M and aduit meetings monthly. Ipswich hospital also runs 3-4 regional teaching days and workshops. They also run RCOG recognized regional courses.