New urogynaecologist joins the team at Scunthorpe and Goole hospitals

Miss Pooja Balchandra provides specialist care for women with urinary incontinence (leakage of urine from the bladder) and pelvic floor prolapse (prolapse of the uterus, cervix and or walls of the vagina).

In addition to this, she also provides care for women with benign gynaecological problems like heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding as well as antenatal and labour ward care.

Miss Balchandra said: “I love my role as it is so diverse. I can be delivering a baby one day to operating on a woman to treat her incontinence problems the next.”

She said incontinence and pelvic floor problems were remarkably common but many women were reluctant to seek help. Countless women are affected and suffer an uncontrollable drip of urine which soaks their clothes. However, they either do not know help is available or are possibly embarrassed to seek help.

“Help is at hand, and women really should go and seek advice from their GP as there are things that can be done to improve their situation.”

She developed her passion for medicine at the age of six. She said: “I worked really hard to get into a merit seat and started medical school at the University of Mumbai, India aged 16.”

She went onto complete her postgraduate degree in obstetrics and gynaecology at the King Edwards Memorial Hospital in Mumbai and then came to the UK in 2002. She further completed the specialty training programme (West Yorkshire rotation) in obstetrics and gynaecology and has received additional, highly specialised training in urogynaecology.

Talking about her move to northern Lincolnshire she said: “I have never worked at Scunthorpe hospital before, but when I came to visit I was very impressed by the gynaecology and obstetrics team. Everyone I came into contact with seemed so lovely and friendly. It really is like a family environment dedicated to the care of the patient and the community.”

She is looking forward to developing new services for the future which will build on the urogynaecology aspect of her role.

Miss Balchandra added: “I am married with three children so I don’t have a lot of spare time. However, I do like to play badminton and enjoy karate. I also love to raise money for charity.”