SPECIAL CONTRIBUTION Urogynaecology training in the UK: past, present and future Swati Jha & Robert Freeman & Philip Toozs-Hobson & David Richmond Received: 1 December 2008 / Accepted: 7 December 2008 / Published online: 9 January 2009 # The International Urogynecological Association 2009 Abstract Introduction With the implementation of Modernising Medical Careers, there has been considerable discussion and debate regarding the role of the urogynaecologist in secondary and tertiary care and how trainees with sub- specialty training and those with a special interest fit into the current and future provision of urogynaecology services within the framework of obstetrics and gynaecology as a whole. Discussion Because of these changes, training in urogy- naecology has and will continue to see major changes. This will also have an impact on workforce planning and service provision within the NHS. An attempt to highlight these issues has been made in this article. Keywords Urogynaecologist . Advanced training skill module (ATSM) . Subspecialty training Introduction In recent years, a combination of technologic, academic, legislative and even societal forces have necessitated change in obstetrics and gynaecology leading to the development of different subspecialities. Urogynaecology as a subspecialty has always existed since the origin of obstetrics and gynaecology, but modern urogynaecology as we know it today can be traced to the 1960s [1]. In fact it has its origins in attempts to repair the errors of bad obstetric management. In 1990, Ingelmen Sundberg of Sweden recognised the need for urogynaecology to be accepted as a specialty in its own right, and for adequate teaching and training to be organised at medical centers [2]. As a subspecialty, urogynaecology offers a fascinating mix of medical and surgical problems affecting the pelvic floor. It deals with the management of urinary and anal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, abnormalities of the bladder and bowel as well as the impact of pelvic floor dysfunction on sexual function. As it evolves, it is rapidly expanding and recognises the skills required to meet our patients’ needs over their lifetimes particularly with chang- ing patient expectations and an aging female population. Though there has been no survey assessing the satisfac- tion rates amongst urogynaecology trainees in the UK, a survey of satisfaction rates amongst US trainees demon- strated that only half of all trainees in Obstetrics and Gynaecology residency programs were happy with their urogynaecology training [3]. Role of BSUG British Society of Urogynaecology (BSUG) was founded in April 2001 following a request from the RCOG for a Int Urogynecol J (2009) 20:377–380 DOI 10.1007/s00192-008-0796-3 S. Jha (*) : P. Toozs-Hobson Department of Urogynaecology, Birmingham Women’ s NHS Foundation Trust, Metchley Park Road, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK e-mail: swatijha83@hotmail.com R. Freeman Department of Urogynaecology, Derriford Hospital, Derriford Rd, Plymouth PL6, UK D. Richmond Department of Urogynaecology, Liverpool Women’ s NHS Foundation Trust, Crown Street, Liverpool L8 7SS, UK