Varicose vein surgery

Clinics

Outpatients clinic at Charing Cross Hospital

Address

Four north outpatients
Charing Cross Hospital
Fulham Palace Road
London
W6 8RF

Hours

Monday afternoons and all day Wednesday and Thursday

Contact information

Phone: 020 3311 7360

Outpatients clinic at St Mary’s Hospital

Address

Main outpatients department
St Mary’s Hospital
Praed Street
London 
W2 1NY

Hours

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings.

Contact information

Phone: 020 3313 5000

Outpatients clinic at Hammersmith Hospital

Address

Main outpatients department
Ground floor
A block
Hammersmith Hospital
Du Cane Road
London 
W12 0HS

Hours

Monday afternoons

Contact information

Phone: 020 3313 5000

Outpatients clinic at West Middlesex University Hospital

Address

Vascular clinic
Main outpatients department
Ground floor
Main building
Twickenham Road
Isleworth
TW7 6AF

Hours

Monday mornings and Tuesdays afternoons

Contact information

Please check your appointment letter for contact information.

Meet the team

Vascular consultants

Professor Alun Davies, lead
Mr Colin Bicknell
Ms Celia Theodoreli-Riga
Mr Michael Jenkins
Mr Richard Gibbs
Mr Christopher Aylwin
Mr Usman Jaffer
Professor Nigel Standfield
Mr David Nott
Mr Joseph Shalhoub

Vascular nurse specialists

Louise Allen
Harriet Ellis

Vascular scientists

Mary Ellis
Maria Bunakova
Carlos Pinho
Mohammed Aslam
Damon Judges
Sophie Connolly
Emma Partridge
Natasha Strevens
Mari Murumets
Mo Ko Win

Patient information

Before your appointment 

You will usually be seen around six weeks after being referred to our varicose vein surgery service. If you have a new venous ulcer we aim to see you within two weeks of referral. 

You are welcome to bring a relative, close friend or carer with you to your appointment. You are also welcome to ask for a chaperone and we will endeavour to provide one for you. You should wear comfortable shoes and loose-fitting clothing that is easy to remove for your appointment. Please bring a list of any medications you currently take to your appointment.

When you arrive at your appointment you may need to have an ultrasound scan performed.

Please note that you may have to wait up to an hour to be seen. 

During your appointment

We aim to arrange your consultation and ultrasound scan on the same day to minimise the number of times you have to come to hospital, however at some hospital sites this may not be possible.

During the appointment a doctor will assess your symptoms and examine your legs and abdomen. A vascular scientist will perform an ultrasound scan of the veins in your legs. Your appointment will take around an hour: 45 minutes for the ultrasound scan and 15 minutes for your consultation, with a short wait in between.

Please note that we are a teaching hospital, so medical students may be present for some appointments. If you do not wish to have them in the room please let the nurse or doctor know and the students will be asked to step outside. 

After your appointment

We aim to discuss the results of the ultrasound scan with you on the same day as your appointment where possible. If treatment is necessary, we will write to you with the date of your surgery. We specialise in performing surgery using local anaesthetic, where you will remain awake for the operation. However, we can sometimes use general anaesthetic, where you will be put to sleep, when required.

When you come into hospital for surgery, expect to be here for around four hours. Please ensure someone is available to pick you up or arrange a taxi home.

Refer to this service

GP

Please use NHS e-Referrals to refer a patient to our varicose vein surgery service if patients meet the following criteria as set out in NICE guidelines:

• symptomatic varicose veins – those typically causing lower limb symptoms such as pain, aching, discomfort, swelling, heaviness and itching that are thought to be due to the effects of superficial venous reflux and for which no other likely cause is apparent
• bleeding varicose veins
• lower limb skin changes, such as pigmentation or eczema
• superficial vein thrombosis, characterised by the appearance of hard, painful veins 
• a recent or on-going venous leg ulcer 

Secondary care

All referrals should be made through the the central booking office.