Dr Dewi Thomas is a Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist at Sancta Maria Hospital, Swansea, with his NHS practice at Morriston Regional Cardiac Centre. Since his consultant appointment in 2016, he has helped lead the expansion and development of ablation services in the region, resulting in Morriston becoming the highest volume electrophysiology centre in the country.

Most recently, Dr Thomas led the team at Morriston Hospital in becoming the first in Wales to perform Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) for atrial fibrillation, using cutting-edge technology that destroys targeted malfunctioning heart cells using ultrafast electrical pulses.

Specialist Interests

• Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation
• Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT)
• Ventricular tachycardia (VT)
• Pulsed field ablation (PFA)
• Pacemaker and defibrillator implantation and follow-up
• Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT)
• Conduction system pacing
• Leadless pacemakers

Conditions Treated and Procedures Offered at Sancta Maria Hospital

• Heart rhythm assessment and management
• Atrial fibrillation (AF) assessment and treatment
• Catheter ablation for AF, SVT and VT
• Pulsed field ablation (PFA)
• Pacemaker implantation and follow-up
• Implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation and follow-up
• Cardiac resynchronisation therapy (CRT) devices
• Conduction system pacing
• Leadless pacemaker assessment and referral
• General cardiology consultations

Clinical Firsts

Dr Thomas has led several significant clinical firsts in Wales and the UK:

• First in Wales to perform Pulsed Field Ablation (PFA) for atrial fibrillation, and one of the earliest uses of the technology anywhere in the UK
• Established Wales’ first Conduction System Pacing programme
• Part of the team that delivered the UK’s first leadless ultrasound-based pacemaker during his fellowship training

Training and Appointments

Dr Thomas graduated from the University of Edinburgh in 2002 and completed junior doctor training in Edinburgh and South Wales. He was awarded a research doctorate (MD) by Cardiff University in 2012, and in 2016 completed an advanced clinical fellowship in Electrophysiology at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, supported by a Medtronic Clinical Electrophysiology Fellowship. He was appointed Consultant Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist at Morriston Regional Cardiac Centre in September 2016.

Research and Clinical Trials

Dr Thomas currently serves as Principal Investigator for two large multicentre randomised controlled trials, with research interests including novel techniques for arrhythmia mapping, AF ablation in heart failure and conduction system pacing. He has been extensively published in peer-reviewed journals and is regularly invited to speak at national and international meetings. He was awarded the All Wales Specialist Registrars’ Research Prize in 2011.

Education and National Roles

Dr Thomas serves as Educational Lead for the British Heart Rhythm Society and is a Senior Lecturer and Clinical Lead for Cardiovascular Medicine at Swansea University Medical School. He has been helping to set national accreditation examinations for the British Heart Rhythm Society for over six years. He holds international accreditation through the British, American and European Heart Rhythm Societies in invasive electrophysiology and implantable device therapy.

Professional Memberships

• British Heart Rhythm Society (Educational Lead)
• American Heart Rhythm Society (international accreditation)
• European Heart Rhythm Association (international accreditation)