Helena Soares

Main Skills:

• Advanced clinical assessment;
• Independent prescribing;
• Urological diagnostics and procedures;
• MDT collaboration;
• Leadership and service improvement.
• Deliver autonomous, advanced clinical assessment and management of patients presenting with a wide range of urological conditions;
• Take comprehensive histories, perform focused physical examinations (including abdominal and genital), and formulate differential diagnoses and evidence-based management plans.
• Independently request, interpret, and act on diagnostic investigations, including blood tests (e.g. PSA), urinalysis and imaging.
• Lead and manage specialist clinics improving patient flow and reducing waiting times. Within 5 months from start the role, reduced waiting times in urology clinics from 2,5 years to 3 months, through triage and independent practice.
• Perform and/or assist with urological procedures, specifically implantation of penile prosthesis, independently counsel the patients for surgery, ward round before discharge and review patient at week 3 and week 6 instead of surgeons.
• Prescribe and optimise pharmacological treatments, ensuring safe and effective medication management.
• Provide patient-centred education and counselling, supporting informed decision-making and long-term condition management.
• Work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team, contributing to MDT discussions and coordinated patient care pathways.
• Support service development through audit, quality improvement initiatives, and implementation of clinical guidelines.
• Supervise and mentor junior staff and contribute to teaching and training within the department.
• Maintain high standards of clinical governance, safety, and professional practice in line with frameworks and regulatory requirements.
• Implemented/improved Andrology Pathway for Referrals.
• Trained 1 staff in intracavernosal injections and intraurethral creams.

· Student coordinator of the department allocating students for the full team;

· In charge of the urology theatre allocated;

· Mentor for nurses, ODP and paramedics;

· Team collaboration and communication;

· Ability to work under pressure in high-acuity environments;

· Provide specialist scrub and anaesthetic support for urological procedures including endoscopic and open surgeries. Scrub nurse expertise across a wide range of urology pecialist urology theatre procedures (e.g. cystoscopy, TURP, ureteroscopy, laparoscopic nephrectomy, robotic prostatectomy, robotic cystoprostatectomy and ileal conduit, RPLND, circumcision, urethroplasty, penile implant, etc);

· Prepare and maintain sterile fields, ensuring strict adherence to infection control protocols;

· Anticipate surgeon needs by preparing instruments and equipment efficiently;

· Support post-operative recovery and handover to recovery staff;

· Assist anaesthetists with induction, airway management, and patient monitoring during surgery;

· Commitment to continuous professional development and evidence-based practice.

• Scrub, anaesthetic and circulator scrub nurse for the following specialities: Urology, Colorectal, Robotics, Breast, Endocrine and part of the Liver Transplant Team (Adult and Paediatric for 4 years).