Welsh Institute For Minimal Access Therapy (Wimat)

WIMAT is a Postgraduate multi-disciplinary surgical training centre

WIMAT (The Welsh Institute for Minimal Access Therapy) was opened in 1994 in Cardiff Medicentre, on the shared site of the University Hospital of Wales and the University of Wales College of Medicine. WIMAT is now under the auspices of Cardiff University and runs multi-disciplinary training courses across a range of surgical and medical specialties.

The original objective was to create a state of the art postgraduate institution to oversee the training and development of minimal access therapy in Wales. From its beginning it was one of the first and best equipped laparoscopic training centres in the UK, and now in the twenty-first century it has become the busiest multi-disciplinary training centre in the country.

WIMAT is currently at the forefront of providing a wide range of postgraduate education and training for SHO's, SpR's and Consultants, which includes basic, intermediate and advanced courses in a range of medical and surgical specialties Including Anaesthetics, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Endoscopy, ENT, General Surgery, Intensive Care, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Orthopaedics, Urology; and welcomes delegates from across the UK and worldwide.

WIMAT is an all Wales facility, with courses being provided in conjunction with the postgraduate centres and clinical skills laboratories in both Wrexham and Carmarthen. Workshops in practical skills are regularly held at satellite centres in Singleton Hospital, The North Wales Endoscopy Training Unit, Llandough Hospital and the School of Biosciences, Cardiff University. WIMAT is the Administrative hub for the Welsh Laparoscopic Training Scheme and the Regional core for JAG approved Endoscopy training courses in Wales.

WIMAT is also proud to announce that in June 2012 the unit was approved as the first RCS Accredited Surgical Education Centre. This accreditation was awarded after a vigorous application process and acknowledges the high level of surgical education and quality assurance which WIMAT provides.