Vascular fellowships

Based at: University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust

Surgical Specialty Association approving: VSGBI

Approval period: Initially approved December 2025 - November 2028

Supervisor/Lead Consultant: Miss Melanie Field with Mr Tom Nieto, Consultant Renal Transplant and Vascular Access Surgeons.

Fellowship duration: 24 months

Stated learning outcomes:

• Capability in Practice Level IV – manages an outpatient clinic
• Capability in Practice Level IV – manages multidisciplinary working
• Capability in Practice Level IV – manages an operating list

At the completion of the fellowship, it is anticipated that independent practice would be achieved for:

• Clinical Assessment of Vascular Access
• Mapping and Planning of Vascular Access
• Primary AV Fistulas
• Vascular Access Emergencies
• Ligation of AV Fistula/AV Graft

At the completion of the fellowship, it is anticipated that that competence to perform with supervision/minimal supervision would be achieved for:

• Secondary Vascular Access
• Management of vascular access salvage
• Complex access assessment

Clinical competencies to be achieved:

• A-V fistula ligation – Level 4 competency
• Construct primary a-v fistula - Level 4 competency
• Access secondary vascular – Level 3/4
• Upper & lower limb PTFE graft – Level 3/4
• Graft thrombectomy and revision – Level 3/4
• Ligation and excision of fistula / graft – Level 4
• Management of Steal syndrome – Level 4
• Complex revision procedures – Level 3
• Clinical Assessment/Mapping of Vascular Access – Level 4

Number of main operations the fellow could expect to be involved in: 

• Primary AV Fistula Creation – 100
• Secondary Vascular Access – 25

Fellowship duration: 12 months

Stated learning outcomes:

• Capability in Practice Level IV - manages an outpatient clinic.
• Capability in Practice Level IV - manages an operating list.
• Capability in Practice Level IV - manages multidisciplinary working.

• Competency in the management of patients requiring access for renal dialysis (Phase 3 Renal).
• Insertion of peritoneal dialysis catheter - Level 4 Competency.
• Creation of arteriovenous fistula - Level 4 Competency.
• Management of steal syndrome - Level 4 Competency.
• Ligation and excision of fistula/graft - Level 4 Competency.

• Radiocephalic arteriovenous fistula (Performed: 20).
• Brachiocephalic arteriovenous fistula (Performed: 30).
• Peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion (Performed: 10).
• Ligation of arteriovenous fistula (Performed: 10).

Based at: Cardiff and Vale University Health Board NHS Trust

Surgical Specialty Association approving: VSGBI

Approval period: Initially approved September 2025 – August 2028

Supervisor/Lead Consultant: Lead Supervisor – Mr Lewis Meecham (Consultant Vascular Surgeon. Clinical Supervisors: Mr Huw Davies (Consultant Vascular Surgeon) and Mr Jonny Nicholls (Consultant Vascular Surgeon).

Fellowship duration: 12 - 24 months

Stated learning outcomes:

• Iliac artery Angioplasty - level 4
• Iliac Artery Stenting - Level 4
• Common femoral endarterectomy - level 4
• Femoro-popliteal/tibial bypass - level 4
• Percutaneous arterial puncture - level 4
• Femoro-popliteal artery angioplasty - level 4

Clinical competencies to be achieved:

• Level 4 – Independent practice common femoral endarterectomy and Iliac Stent
• Level 4 - Independent practice common femoral endarterectomy and SFA/Popliteal angioplasty
• Level 4 - Tibial Artery angioplasty

Number of main operations the fellow could expect to be involved in: 

• CERAB/Aortic Kissing Stent (Performed: 10)
• Common Femoral Endarterectomy/Infra-inguinal Bypass and Iliac angioplasty/Stent (Performed: 60)
• Common Femoral endarterectomy and SFA/POP andgioplasty and Stent (Performed: 20)
• Common Femoral Endarterectomy/Infra-inguiinal Bypass and tibial angioplasty (Performed: 20)