Melanie Thomas

National Clinical Lead and Director, Lymphoedema Network Wales

Melanie is a physiotherapist by background. She was instrumental in developing equitable Lymphoedema Services in Wales and is responsible for the planning and strategic development of Lymphoedema Network Wales (LNW) across NHS Wales. Embedded in Value-Based Healthcare LNW aims to reduce waste, harm and variation as well as enhancing learning thus improving patient outcomes, patient experience and quality. Melanie has been the principal investigator in numerous research trials in lymphoedema and completed her Doctorate with Swansea University in 2018. She has presented and published widely in delivering innovations in lymphoedema care including the implementation of the Lymphatic Venous Anastomosis and a National Paediatric Lymphoedema Service. One of the new of work initiatives is the Cellulitis Improvement Programme and embedding On the Ground Education for Community Nurses in NHS Wales. In 2013, Melanie was awarded a MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and a Fellowship by the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. She is also a Director in the International Lymphoedema Framework Charity. Twitter: @lymphwales