General Surgery Clinic

General Surgery Consultants

Mr Alan Woodward

MBBCh. MCh FRCS
Consultant General Surgeon

Alan Woodward is a Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon, privately based at Vale Healthcare in south Wales. Alan has been a consultant general surgeon for 13 years and is based at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital in Llantrisant. His undergraduate training was at the Welsh National School of Medicine and his postgraduate training was undertaken in Wales, Liverpool and the United States. It was in the United States where he worked on his thesis on gastrointestinal motility for the degree of Master of Surgery. His private general surgery practice is based at Vale Healthcare South Wales' leading private clinic and private hospital for general surgery including hernia, colorectal disease, gallbladder disease and haemorrhoid surgery int the state-of-the-art Vale Hospital near Cardiff.

General Surgery

Alan's general surgical practice is primarily in the areas of hernia surgery, colorectal disease and surgery for gallbladder disease and acid reflux. He was the first surgeon in Wales to undertake stapled haemorrhoidectomy, a less painful way of treating haemorrhoids surgically. In addition, he has taught the technique to many consultants both in Wales and in the South of England.

Hernia Surgery

Alan has one of the largest published series of hernia repairs under local anaesthesia and has particular expertise in this area. He has developed a local anaesthetic mixture which enables medically unfit patients to undergo hernia repair safely. He is one of only a few surgeons who also has extensive experience of laparoscopic repair of groin hernias, incisional hernias and treatment of sportsman's groin.

Laparoscopic Surgery

In addition to the above laparoscopic procedures Alan routinely undertakes laparoscopic cholecystectomy using 3 small wounds rather than the traditional 4 wound technique.

Teaching and Training

Alan is an Honarary Undergaduate Lecturer for surgery in the Cardiff University Medical School and has a particular interest in developing work experience for prospective medical students. He is committed to training postgraduate surgical trainees and has been presented with the Best Trainer of the Year award by the surgical training committee.

He is also Clinical Director of surgery,orthopaedics and urology at Cwm Taf NHS Trust and has managerial responsiblities at both the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and Prince Charles Hospital.

Born in Liverpool, he remains a keen supporter and follower of Liverpool Football Club and enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.