New £33,000 machine to help women receive faster diagnosis at Royal United Hospital Bath

Women across Bath, Wiltshire and Somerset are set to benefit from faster diagnosis and treatment for urinary incontinence thanks to a new £33,000 urodynamics machine funded by hospital charity RUHX and its supporters.

The new equipment has been installed at the Royal United Hospital’s Gynaecology Department and is expected to reduce waiting times, cut the number of appointments patients need and help clinicians reach accurate diagnoses more quickly.

Urinary incontinence affects around one in four women in the UK and can have a significant impact on everyday life, yet many people delay seeking help because they feel embarrassed or believe it is an inevitable part of ageing or childbirth.

The RUH receives around 415 referrals each year for women with pelvic floor disorders, and clinicians say having the new machine within the department will significantly improve the patient pathway.

Mrs Aysha Qureshi, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, said the equipment would make “a step change improvement” to the service, allowing the team to provide faster diagnosis and continuity of care for women with what can be a deeply personal condition.

Mel De Jaeger, Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Uro-Gynaecology, thanked everyone who helped fund the equipment, saying it would benefit women across Bath, Wiltshire and Somerset while reducing the time they spend waiting for diagnosis and treatment.

The machine was funded through RUHX’s Women’s Health campaign, with support from donors including the Bath Women’s Fund. The charity says the investment will help hundreds of local women access the care they need sooner.