Mr James Thomas also has an added special interest in urogynaecology, which will mean that he will see patients across the whole age range and not just those women having babies. He joins Consultant Obstetrician and Urogynaecologist Mr WolfGelman and his team. His decision to aim specifically for a specialist role with an interest in urogynaecology has been thanks to support and direction he received from Professor Stuart Stanton of St. George’s Hospital, Consultant Urogynaecologist Mr Ash Monga of Southampton University Hospitals, and from others during his career. Mr Thomas has already worked at the Trust as a locum and in his last post was a Senior Registrar at Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Said Mr Thomas, who qualified at St. George’s Hospital in 1999: “I was initially drawn to Obstetrics and Gynaecology due to its mixture of medicine and surgery. I am especially interested in intrapartum obstetrics -  women in labour -  andurogynaecology, the two of which may seem poles apart, but are inherently linked.

“Obstetrics has never been a particularly glamorous speciality, but to be involved in the delivery of someone’s baby, one of the most personal and emotive experiences in somebody’s life, is both a great pleasure and an honour.

“My main aims over the next few years are to help improve the hands on teaching on the labour ward and more closely look after those women who have had a caesarean section before and are planning to have a vaginal delivery in their subsequent pregnancy.”

Looking ahead he said: “As far as the gynaecology service is concerned, I hope to continue to help to reduce the waiting times and increase the number of women treated as day cases, and those who are given local anaesthetic treatment for prolapseand incontinence. We are hoping to develop the service further and have some plans that are in progress.”

Speaking about his free time Mr Thomas said: “I enjoy athletics, working on, and riding my motorbike. I’m also a keen artist, painting with acrylics, and have a wide taste in music. I’m married with two fantastic children.”