Clinical practice experience
Following completion of his specialist surgical training, Mr Welch achieved both time-served accreditation in surgery and the Certificate of Completion of Specialist Training (CCST). He was appointed Consultant in General and Vascular Surgery at Burnley General Hospital in October 1998. In 2000, he moved to the Regional Vascular Surgical Unit at the University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust (UHSM), where he practised exclusively as a Consultant Vascular Surgeon. Following the merger of UHSM and Central Manchester Foundation Trust in 2017 to form Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), the two vascular services subsequently consolidated at Manchester Royal Infirmary in 2020 to establish the Manchester Vascular Centre (MVC). Until May 2022, Mr Welch practised at MFT as a Senior Consultant Vascular Surgeon, working within a large specialist vascular team providing comprehensive elective and emergency vascular services to a population of more than two million people across Greater Manchester and the surrounding region. His extensive NHS career encompassed the assessment and treatment of a broad range of arterial and venous disease, including both routine and complex vascular surgery. Having stepped back from full-time NHS clinical practice, Mr Welch now serves as Senior Appraiser for MFT, drawing upon his extensive clinical experience to support professional appraisal and standards of medical practice across the Trust.
Clinical interests
Until the end of May 2022, Mr Welch maintained a comprehensive vascular surgical practice, regularly performing the full range of arterial and venous procedures. His operative commitments included a weekly full-day arterial surgery list at Manchester Vascular Centre (MVC) and a regular venous surgery list. His specialist interests include the management of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), complex and revisional arterial surgery, peripheral arterial disease and distal arterial bypass for limb salvage. He also has extensive experience in venous surgery, particularly the treatment of both primary and recurrent varicose veins. Alongside his work at MVC, Mr Welch provided a regular on-site vascular service at Wythenshawe Hospital and Macclesfield District General Hospital, including weekly specialist vascular clinics and the assessment of patients with a broad range of arterial and venous conditions. He has also maintained a busy private vascular practice, undertaking regular outpatient clinics and operating lists encompassing both arterial and venous surgery. His extensive clinical and operative experience spans the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of both routine and complex vascular disease.
Research interests
Mr Welch has authored and co-authored more than 30 peer-reviewed publications in the surgical literature, reflecting his longstanding involvement in vascular surgical research. His principal research interests include the surgical management of critical limb ischaemia, complex and revisional arterial surgery, and the management of recurrent varicose veins. He has contributed to major multicentre vascular surgery trials, including the BASIL trial, investigating treatment strategies for severe lower-limb ischaemia, and the EVAR trial, evaluating endovascular repair in the management of abdominal aortic aneurysms. He has also participated in numerous other multicentre clinical research studies across vascular surgery. His research experience reflects his broader clinical interests in peripheral arterial disease, limb ischaemia, arterial reconstruction, abdominal aortic aneurysm repair and venous disease, contributing to the evidence base underpinning contemporary vascular surgical practice
Teaching & training
Chair Basic Surgical Training Rotation, UHSM 2004-2007
Royal College of Surgeons Tutor, UHSM 2006-2009
Programme Director Core Surgery, South Sector, North West Deanery 2007-2009
Programme Director Core Surgery (Quality), North West Deanery 2009-2012
Programme Director General & Vascular Surgery (higher surgery trainees), North West Deanery 2012-2017
President, North West Regional Association of Surgeons 2017-2019
Memberships of professional bodies
9
Management experience
Clinical Director of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital South Manchester (UHSM) 2001-2009;
Director of Infection Prevention & Control, UHSM 2005-2007;
Associate Medical Director, UHSM 2009-2012;
Clinical Director of Vascular Surgery, UHSM 2012-2014;
Clinical Lead for Vascular Surgery, UHSM 2017-2019;
Chairman of the Medical Staff Committee, Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester 2015-2022;
Senior Appraiser, Manchester University Foundation Trust (MFT) 2022-current
