Paul Ballard has an easy manner that allows patients to feel relaxed, put at ease, and enter into often difficult and embarrassing discussions which are inevitably very frequent in the specialties of Menopause, Gynaecology and Urinary Continence and Vaginal Prolapse treatment. A patient who is relaxed is more able to convey the difficulties she is facing and this can result in a more detailed and fruitful consultation, and therefore a more patient specific treatment programme. He ensures patients are provided with all the information they require, verbal and written, and adequate time to consider their treatment options. Patients are given realistic expectations for treatment outcomes to enable them to make a personal choice as to which treatment option suits their particular needs at that time.
Paul graduated from University of Leeds Medical School in 1988. He entered a 10 year program of training, including 2 years in research at a Menopause and Metabolic Bone Centre (leading to a higher degree - MD, and numerous publications in medical journals). He then spent a further 2 years specific training in Urogynaecology -the management of female urinary problems, incontinence and vaginal prolapse, and Post Childbirth Problems, to become a consultant in 2000. Within Obstetrics and Gynaecology therefore, as well as providing general gynaecological advice and treatments, he holds certain specific areas of expertise which include problems related to the Menopause and HRT management and Urogynaecology. He has received numerous Excellence Awards from his Trust.
As a consultant for more than 20 years, he has seen innumerable clinical scenarios and developed a broad armamentarium of surgical skills and procedures, offering both simple low risk procedures and the more complex procedures. He has an emphasis on minimal access surgery seeking to improve patients' post operative pathway and enabling them to recover more quickly.
He has been actively involved with the British Society of Urogynaecology, having been Chair of the Governance Committee for 5 years, and continues with medical research and publications in peer reviewed journals. He was previously a Senior Lecturer at Durham University. He has trained many junior doctors over the years and most have gone onto bigger and better things.
He has been a keen sportsman all his life, football and athletics as a school boy. He is a black belt in Taekwondo Do (ITF) having practised for approximately 13 years. He also has many years' experience of Judo, Freestyle Kickboxing and Muay Thai. He also does trail walks and fell runs.
He is married and has three children.
