I am originally from Pontypool in South Wales and qualified from Nottingham University Medical School in 1990. I returned to Wales to complete my surgical training and became a Consultant Surgeon at the Royal Gwent Hospital in 2005. My main professional interests are in “key-hole” surgery. The benefits of key-hole surgery are smaller scars, less pain and a quicker return to normal activities. I commonly perform laparoscopic operations in the treatment of gallbladder stones and bile duct stones routinely using cholangiography (X-rays) to aid the procedure.
Groin hernia repair is one of the commonest operations performed in the UK and I almost exclusively use a “key-hole” approach to this operation using the TEP (totally extraperitoneal) technique. This has been shown to be a less painful operation than traditional hernia repair and results in a quicker return to normal activities.
I have a large NHS practice for the assessment of patients for weight loss surgery and, having had experience of a variety of surgical techniques, I have specialised in Gastric Banding as the surgical treatment of choice for weight loss. This is a very safe and effective surgical method for achieving significant weight loss. I also have the largest experience in the South Wales region of intragastric balloons in the treatment of obesity.
I also use the “key–hole” technique for the surgical treatment of acid reflux disease and the repair of hiatus hernias.
I have had extensive media involvement including appearing on ITV’s “This Morning” to discuss a rare type of hernia repair. I have been interviewed on Real Radio and Red Dragon Radio discussing the provision of weight loss surgery in Wales and have featured in the Western Mail also on weight loss surgery issues. I have also featured in the South Wales Argus on the development of the “key- hole” surgery service for Gwent.