Mr Chris Harding, a urological surgeon from Freeman Hospital has been awarded the much coveted 2020 Golden Telescope by the British Association of Urological Surgeons.
This prestigious national award is given to urological surgeons in their first decade of consultant practice in acknowledgement of a significant and lasting contribution to Urology.
Mr Harding is the first urologist from Newcastle to win this award since its inception in 2001.
Of his win he said, “I am delighted to receive this award nominated by my peers and am very pleased to join the esteemed list of previous winners. I would like to thank all of my colleagues in Newcastle urology for their support during my first 10 years of consultant practice”.
The citation for the award was made by colleague and senior urologist, Mr David Thomas. It says: “He has made a massive contribution in clinical services, research and education, and has been the Lead British Urologist advising on the management of patients suffering complications from vaginal mesh surgery.
This aspect of his work should not be underestimated with a huge amount of time dedicated to the NHS England Working Group on transvaginal mesh and as advisor to Baroness Cumberlidge for her forthcoming report.
Mr David Thomas, consultant urologist
Chris runs a tertiary referral reconstructive practice including bladder and ureteric reconstruction, fistula repair, mesh removal and artificial sphincter surgery, with excellent national outcome data. He has developed a Reconstructive Fellowship post approved by the Royal College of Surgeons of England to further help disseminate reconstructive skills.
Not only that, Chris has led on sacral neuromodulation in the North-East and has become an advisor to both NICE and NHS Scotland for neuromodulation services.
His contribution to the field of incontinence surgery is recognised by his appointment to the International Continence Society sitting on both the Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Committee and the Urodynamics Committee. Chris has led on urodynamics training nationally for a number of years running the Newcastle Urodynamics Course. He is a member of the UK Continence Society, Urodynamics Guidelines Committee.
Mr Thomas added: “I can think of no young Consultant more worthy of the Golden Telescope Award than Christopher Harding. He is a highly talented Academic Urologist with excellent skills and a passion for both training and research.
In closing he says: “He is following in the footsteps of his mentor, the late Professor Pickard, who would be very proud of his achievements.”
No greater praise required.
