Prof Sohier Elneil
Professor Sohier Elneil is a Consultant Urogynaecologist and Uro-neurologist. She treats women with pelvic floor, bladder and bowel injuries. Sohier has pioneered the application of truly integrated, patient supported, and holistic care pathways in pelvic floor medicine and surgery, which has facilitated innovative and safe treatment in this space.
Bio
Professor Elneil is the first Professor of Urogynaecology at University College London and is a leading Consultant in Urogynaecology and Uro-neurology at The London Clinic. Her career spans several decades looking after women with incontinence and prolapse, but specifically in those with complications following childbirth trauma, including fistula, female genital mutilation (FGM), mesh complications, chronic pelvic pain, and neurological/ageing of the pelvic floor. The effects on women’s lives were destructive, and it galvanized her to undertake research into the medicine and science of these pelvic floor disorders.
In recognition of her work, Sohier is the recipient of many awards and has been selected to write policy documents of national importance, including authoring the chapter on incontinence and prolapse for the Chief Medical Officer’s annual report 'The Health of the 51%: Women' report’. This proved to be a seminal policy document that continues to impact healthcare today.
Sohier has a sustained track record of excellence in both clinical and scientific research, knowledge transfer, global reach, student personal and professional development and empowering the voices of women globally in their own health care. She has worked with NICE, the MHRA, and the RCOG, and has Chaired or been a member of various committees, including at the European Association of Urology, the International Continence Society, and the International Urogynaecology Association amongst others.
Sohier has pioneered the application of truly integrated, patient supported, and holistic care pathways in pelvic floor medicine and surgery, which has facilitated innovative and safe treatment in this space. This advance is transformative for many, enabling them to not only to improve their health and quality of life, but to ensure it is individualized and safe care. She continues to have great passion to develop new opportunities to expand our understanding of the complexity of pelvic floor disorders in women, and in so doing further improve their lives.
More information
5 Devonshire Place
London W1G 6HL
Pelvic floor disorders:
- Bladder dysfunction: Urinary incontinence, urinary tract infection, voiding dysfunction, interstitial cystitis
- Bowel dysfunction: Constipation, defecatory disorders, faecal incontinence
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Sexual dysfunction: Female sexual dysfunction, vulvar diseases, genitourinary anomalies
- Vaginal mesh complications
Non-surgical treatments:
- Pelvic floor biofeedback: Muscle retraining to help patients learn to strengthen or relax pelvic floor muscles
- Pelvic floor therapy: Manual and Non-manual therapy to help strengthen or modify the pelvic floor
- Pelvic floor electrical stimulation: Electrical stimulations to rehabilitate weak pelvic floor muscles
- Musculo-Skeletal Physiotherapy: Therapy to help strengthen or modify the Musculo-skeletal system that help treat chronic pain syndromes and improve posture and/or mobility
- Pessary fitting and maintenance: A removable device that can support pelvic organ prolapse
Minimally invasive surgical treatments:
- Urinary incontinence: Botox bladder injections, urethral bulking agents, percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation
- Faecal incontinence: Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation
Surgical treatments:
- Childbirth trauma: Repair of 3rd and 4th degree tears
- Female genital mutilation: Deinfibulation, clitoral cystectomy, labiaplasty
- Urinary incontinence: Autologous fascial sling, burch colposuspension, mesh removal, fistula repairs, sacral neuromodulation
- Faecal incontinence: Mesh removal, fistula repairs, sacral neuromodulation
- Prolapse: Anterior and/or posterior repairs, sacrospinous fixation, uterosacral ligament suspension, mesh removal, abdominal sacrocolpopexy, congenital anomaly repairs.
Diagnostic tests and examinations:
Patient care begins with a comprehensive diagnostic evaluation that includes a history, a physical examination, and a thorough discussion of symptoms.
Our imaging and urodynamics laboratory provides a comprehensive array of diagnostic studies to determine the cause of urinary and faecal incontinence and other pelvic floor disorders. We also have access to a neurophysiology assessment service.
- Consultant Urogynaecologist and Gynaecologist
University College Hospital - Consultant Urogynaecologist and Gynaecologist
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
- Simpson Smith Medal in Surgery 2021
- Daily Mail NHS Health Hero Award, Presented by Rt Hon Prime Minister Theresa May 2018
- NHS Patient Association and BBC One Show Health Hero Award (70th NHS Anniversary) 2018
Hernia mesh complications 'affect more than 100,000'
BBC
26/09/2018
Professor Elneil is quoted in this news item, describing her as 'a leading voice in the successful campaign to halt the use of vaginal mesh on the NHS in England'.