Impressed by what he learned on a training visit to the US in 2003 David wanted to radically improve not only the medical techniques themselves but also the culture and process of varicose vein treatment in the UK. Countless patients across the country were referred to NHS outpatient clinics, examined by a junior doctor, given another appointment for a scan, and returned to outpatients to be told “Your veins are not bad enough we can’t treat you on the NHS”. What a waste of everyone’s time and resources! In the private sector things were not much better with long winded assessment processes necessitating multiple visits before a treatment plan was agreed and costed. No choice of treatment was usually offered and unreasonable charges were (and often still are) levied for traditional operations which had changed little in decades. Scientific studies on patients’ satisfaction with management of their varicose veins showed poor results.

David determined to change all that and provide a vein service that truly met the needs and expectations of patients in the internet age.

He set the following key aims

Efficiency: To minimize the number of visits necessary, the time treatment takes and the time off work and hobbies.To respond to all queries and requests knowledgeably, quickly, directly and confidently. To fit patients in at a time of their convenience and to have no significant waiting lists.

Personal Service: To treat every patient with respect and listen to their needs and wishes. To be friendly, open and cheerful. To offer a wide choice of appointment times and convenient locations.

Safety: To keep facilities scrupulously clean and develop rigorous risk management systems. To provide regular staff training and appraisal.

Effectiveness: To utilise the latest proven innovations and equipment. To carefully analyse each patient’s problem and provide the most effective bespoke treatment. To manage 99% of all patients without surgery. To complete treatment as planned and never have to bring patients back for a repeat attempt.

Comfort: To create modern environments of the highest quality. To utilse techniques which minimise pain.

Honesty: To be upfront about costs, likely outcomes, side effects etc. To encourage, and regularly analyse, feedback about our service.

Value: To charge reasonable rates and have no hidden and unexpected charges. To provide low cost credit facilities for those who request them.

From our internal audits and feedback we have received over the last 7 years we feel confident that we are fulfilling these aims and are particularly pleased to note that we have achieved all this at a price which competes even with Eastern European clinics!

Our treatments offer the following advantages over traditional surgery:

1. No general anaesthetic needed
2. No need for time off work
3. No scars

Rather belatedly recognising the benefits of non-surgical treatments, many general private hospitals and cosmetic surgery clinics now offer EVLT and other minimally invasive techniques like VNUS but with any medical treatment experience and focus are crucial to success. Our extensive experience shows in recent audits of our results which demonstrate:

1. That we can effectively treat over 99% of patients suffering from varicose veins without surgery.
2. No serious complications.
3. Less than 1% recurrence over 5 years.
4. 100% successful venous cannulation rate.

So confident are we, that we can manage your problem without surgery, we offer appointments for consultation and treatment at the same visit. Many patients travel long distances, have EVLT treatment to both legs and are back on the train home within two hours.
Our service has been rigorously assessed by the Healthcare Commission (now Care Quality Commission) with whom we are registered.


Service number 1-12552880