How can I find a really skilled private Vascular surgeon (North West)

[muminherts]

I have been asked this by a lovely relative in her seventies. She has a varicose vein which is now bulging alarmingly and as such more prone to being knocked according to her GP.

She has been told by GP she could get this on the NHS but the wait would be too long and he said if she could afford to consult a really skilled vascular surgeon.

My relative doesn’t know any and has absolutely no idea how to locate one. Can anyone advise?

So grateful in advance for any help!

Look at the local private hospitals near you. One will have a vascular surgeon visiting/working from there. Chances are it'll be the same surgeon she would be on the wait list for.

Thanks very much @foodtoorder

I think what has spooked her is this comment about finding someone really skilled. How can she tell?

Word of mouth? Private clinics often have reviews too.
Private work is usually done by consultants, people at the top of their field. They have registrations to uphold and be accountable for.

The GP should be able to advise surely?!

@Phineyj You would think but there was no recommendation!

@foodtoorder she is a lovely lady but not the sort of person who would be confident to say to other ladies in their seventies have you had your varicose veins done. She hasn’t lived in her current area very long which doesn’t help either.

Following in case you find one!!

https://liverpoolvascularclinic.com/

something like that?

@Flossiemoss do you know them?

@RandomMess fingers crossed for us both!

David West at veincentre is now retired , but veincentre is amazing , there’s one in Manchester and they will be amazing.

not personally. But I know we’ll the nhs trust they work for and yes I would trust that vascular centre. So if it were me(it’s not) I’d be happy they were appropriately skilled and used to complex cases.

I saw Dr Alex Watson at Dorset County Hopsital as an NHS patient but he also takes on private patients at the Winterbourne hospital in Dorchester. He was fabulous, kind, compassionate and the results were fabulous. I only had to wait 12 weeks too as an NHS patient so dependent on where you are in the country, maybe see if she can refer to Dorset County Hospital rather than her local one

@Yolkpoker thank you and I will tell her

@Flossiemoss thank you too and I will definitely take a look

@NameChangeEmbarressed thank you so much - should have been clearer this is Manchester/Liverpool rather than the West Country! Your surgeon sounds beyond wonderful and really glad you were treated so well.

Fairfield Hospital has a very good reputation x

www.fairfield.org.uk/conditions/private-varicose-veins-treatments/

Thanks so much @FTM2022SS

Does anyone know anything about this dr https://www.doctify.com/uk/specialist/mr-madu-onwudike

Someone suggested looking on doctify and he has great reviews.

Bump

you can check PHIN website if you want to drill down into the details if a surgeon and their outcomes

NHS GPs are not allowed to recommend private services.

It's a bit crap though isn't it? To evaluate whether a surgeon is skilled or not/the procedure is right for you, you need particular skills and knowledge.

With waiting lists what they are, it doesn't seem reasonable for patients to have to guess.

The Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle. Mr Murray

Hi,

My friend has just had her veins treated at a purpose built clinic in Manchester. Only uses experienced vascular surgeons and was walk in walk out. Said it was an amazing experience.

avaclinics.co.uk

Find out who is head of vascular surgery at the nearest top rated hospital.

It's then very easy to find out if they take private patients and nearly all do. They'll be contact details for the private secretary on the internet and you can then contact them directly.

I was lucky as my GP referred me privately but it's not hard to find out who they are.