Mr James Manson

AUGIS Regional Representative: Wales

Training
Qualified from St Andrew’s, Scotland and Manchester. Post graduate training in the north west of England together with two years in Harvard Medical School, USA. Appointed to Neath Hospital in 1993 and, 18 months later, moved to the South West Wales Cancer Centre in Swansea.

Clinical Interests
For the first 10 years of my consultant career I undertook both oesophago-gastric and pancreatic resections for malignancy. From five years ago, following local reorganisation, I have concentrated entirely on oesophago-gastric pathology. Have avoided the temptation of carrying out cancer resections via minimally invasive techniques –in my case this was not much of a temptation! Perform laparoscopic surgery for benign disease with a particular emphasis on anti-reflux surgery, large intra-thoracic hernias and revisional procedures.

AUGIS Roles
As Welsh representative on the AUGIS national committee I try to represent the views of the AUGIS members in Wales. Have gone on to have a role in NCEPOD and, in particular, the Joint Advisory Group in Endoscopy (JAG). Further to this latter role I am one of a small group charged with deciding how individual endoscopists who perform diagnostic upper GI endoscopy are initially accredited and eventually re-licensed. This is a very difficult task and any constructive ideas would be welcome!

Other Roles
Chair, Upper GI Cancer, South West Wales Cancer Network
Upper GI Cancer representative, SW Wales Cancer Network, Central Cancer Steering Group, Welsh Assembly Government
Oesophago-gastric Lead, ABMU Health Board (Swansea, Neath, Bridgend)
Local co-coordinator for higher surgical training in South West Wales
Editor of the British Journal of Surgery
Intercollegiate examiner
College representative on consultant AACs.

Research Interests
I have an interest in the surgical approaches to upper GI malignancy and the staging of upper GI cancer. We pioneered the use of EUS in the staging of oesophageal malignancy in the UK (second only to Bristol) and were the first unit in the UK to offer EUS guided FNA/core biopsy. I also have an interest in the palliation of oesophageal cancer and have introduced what could be described as different ways to insert oesophageal stents, in particular without using radiological control.

Outside Interests
Watching sons play rugby/football. Skiing (told not as good as Richard Welbourn, which is very upsetting!) and golf (handicap 3).