EVLT - International varicose vein laser training at The Whiteley Clinic

Over the last 2 days, Professor Mark Whiteley and his team have been running an EVLT training course at The Clinical Exchange - which is the training wing of The Whiteley Clinic.

Surgeons, doctors and physicians assistants learning EVLT (endovenous laser treatment)
at The Clinical Exchange in The Whiteley Clinic - the Angiodynamics International Training Academy

 On Thursday 25th, Professor Mark Whiteley and Judy Holdstock lectured about the new understanding of venous reflux and endovenous treatments.

Professor Mark Whieley operating live in The Whiteley Clinic as part of the
Angiodynamics International Training Academy



Today, Friday, Professor Mark Whiteley and his team operated live - with 2 visiting surgeons in theatre and the other delegates watching via the live video and audio link up to The Clinical Exchange.

The Clinical Exchange has robotic cameras in the ceiling of The Whiteley Clinic with a live audio link, allowing delegates to see everything in HD including the ultrasound pictures - and ask Professor Whiteley questions live during the operations.

The Whiteley Clinic is the Angiodynamics International Training Academy for EVLT and runs multiple courses for different endovenous techniques throughout the year.

 

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome treated with TRLOP and Foam Sclerotherapy

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome is an abnormality of the veins - often mistaken for bad varicose veins.



This is a case of a patient treated successfully at The Whiteley Clinic using our TRLOP method of closing perforator veins and the foam sclerotherapy.

Previously the patient had undergone open vein surgery and skin laser surgery, both of which had made no difference but had left scars.

see: http://phl.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/07/18/0268355513496991.abstract

Will NHS and Private Insurers drop varicose veins after NICE guidelines?

Will the NHS and private medical insurance companies buckle under the new NICE guidelines for varicose veins?

Yesterday, almost hidden away under the immense news coverage of the Royal birth, the NICE guidelines for varicose veins were published. Their recommendations were revolutionary and they could have a major impact on the National Health Service and private medical insurance in the UK - but thanks to Prince George, what should have caused a storm of interest has passed with barely a passing glance.

Article in Huffington Post - 24th July 2013



For the first time, the National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has stated that anyone with varicose veins and symptoms should be referred to a special vascular service. At the present time, most people going to their general practitioners with varicose veins get turned away and told they are "only cosmetic". With somewhere in the region of 20% of the adult population having visible varicose veins, how will the NHS cope if all of these people quote the new NICE guidelines and demand referral?

Clearly there will not be enough money in the system for these people to have treatment.

The private medical insurance companies do not see their role as propping up a failing NHS - and are highly unlikely to pay for patients to have varicose vein treatments if the NHS can't afford to provide them.

Furthermore, both the NHS and private medical insurance companies have used support stockings as a way of procrastination. Both have avoided referring patients with varicose veins for treatment by insisting they wear support stockings for a variable amount of time. Once again the NICE guidelines clearly state there is no evidence for the use of support stockings as a "treatment" of varicose veins and as such should not be used to delay a referral.

Rather tellingly, on Radio 4 a couple of weeks ago, a politician was quoted as saying that just because a procedure or treatment shows an improvement in quality-of-life for patients, it doesn't mean to say that the NHS can afford to provide it.

Personally, I think that the fallout from these NICE guidelines for varicose veins could have massive ramifications for healthcare provision in the country. It could be the first time that the government and NHS are honest enough to say that not all healthcare that has a positive medical advantage of patients can be afforded on the NHS and this will probably spark the private medical insurance companies to do the same.

The speed of this will depend upon how quickly the public with varicose veins and venous disease realise the impact of what NICE has said and start insisting on referrals and treatment. It may be fortunate for those in the NHS management and private health insurance companies that the birth of Prince George has diverted enough attention to slow the message getting out to the public.

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mark-s-whiteley/a-nice-result-for-patients-varicose-veins-and-leg-ulcers---but-how-will-the-nhs-and-private-insurers-cope_b_3640216.html

The Telegraph - Kate Shapland recommends Mark Whiteley for varicose veins

Today, the lovely Kate Shapland has published an article in The Telegraph entitled "Beauty Notebook: The Holiday Manicure" (link below).



Kate Shapland explains Mark Whiteley's approach to treating varicose veins



In the article, Kate explains about how Mark Whiteley revolutionised the treatment of varicose veins and recommends The Whiteley Clinic.

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/beauty/news-features/TMG10188621/Beauty-notebook-The-holiday-manicure.html

Patient on Embarrassing Bodies with varicose veins gets wrong treatment

A patient on Embarrassing Bodies saw Dr Dawn who quite correctly advised referral for treatment of her symptomatic varicose veins.

Unfortunately, although the video clearly shows she has varicose veins coming from next to her vulva on the inside of her upper thigh, her vascular surgeon has missed these veins and missed the significance - that she almost definitely has pelvic varicose veins causing her leg varicose veins (see similar cases in this blog and on www.vulval-varicose-veins.co.uk).



Research from The Whiteley Clinic has shown that this means she will probably need her varicose veins to be treated all over again in the future.
Had she had a proper transvaginal duplex ultrasound scan, and coil embolization of her varicose veins, the pelvic veins would have been treated first, leaving the leg varicose veins able to be treated without the underlying cause being left behind.

www.vulval-varicose-veins.co.uk
 

A new way to apply for a job - Win a business apprenticeship

Today sees the launch of our new way of recruiting entrepreneurial staff.

Traditionally, jobs are advertised with a job description and pay scale - but we thought wouldn't it be nice if you could choose your own?



The College of Phlebology is an Internet based company that has both B2B and B2C interest. There are opportunities for advertising for equipment or service providing companies, teaching, training, running courses or conferences to doctors and nurses interested in venous disease as well as providing information and products for the public looking for veins services.

Already in English and Spanish, and trademarked in many countries around the world, the College of Phlebology has a huge potential under the guidance of the right individual.

However, the right individual should have their own plans to grow the business and see it flourish as well as knowing how they are going to achieve them. Hence rather than advertise a job, we are advertising an opportunity.

In a break from the traditional way of recruiting staff, the application form is a list of assets available to the successful candidate.

Your application will be your business plan showing how you will grow and develop the College of Phlebology over the next three years using these assets, and showing the returns you will be able to make.

Included in your business plan will be your own salary and/or other incentives such as profit share etc to show you link the growth of the company with your own development.

However, rather than just an application, the successful candidate will then be expected to live their own business plan.

Failure to be able to deliver the business plan will result in termination of the opportunity. However successful delivery of the business plan or over delivery from the promised plan over three years will result in permanent appointment to being CEO of the company.

In this unique experiment of trying to find a business person who can "think outside the box" and deliver on their plans, we hope that we have developed a new way to appoint people to jobs that need entrepreneurial flair and individual styles.

For applications or more information please contact isabel@thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk

 

Superglue for varicose veins - is it worth the money?

Professor Mark Whiteley answers a question about Venaseal glue for varicose veins, sent in to the "Your questions answered" section of   The Whiteley Clinic website (http://www.thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk/your-questions/).



In this question, Isabel asks if the new superglue treatment of varicose veins (Venaseal) is worth the extra money it costs to have it done.

See the You Tube video above for the answer.

http://www.thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk/your-questions/

 

Dinosaurs and Varicose Veins Surgery - Huffington Post

Professor Mark Whiteley's latest article in The Huffingtom post examines what is a satisfactory outcome from varicose veins surgery.


Prof Mark Whiteley writes in The Huffington Post -
Dinosaurs and Varicose Veins Surgery
Click on picture to read article



What is really more important? A good technical success from treatment or a happy patient?

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/mark-s-whiteley/dinosaurs-and-varicose-veins-surgery_b_3578857.html

Varicose veins and venous leg ulcers - understanding the causes

Professor Mark Whiteley has written an easy to follow book called "Understanding Venous Reflux - The Cause of Varicose Veins and Venous Leg Ulcers".



In this video about the book, Professor Whiteley explains who the book is aimed at and who will find it useful.

With almost 40% of the population having venous reflux, virtually everyone either has, or is close to, someone with venous reflux. As this can go on to cause, varicose veins, thread veins, venous eczema, swollen ankles, discoloured skin, phlebitis (clots) or even leg ulcers, then most people will find it a very useful read.

Written in an easy to follow style, and with over 50 diagrams to explain the text, "Understanding Venous Reflux - The Cause of Varicose Veins and Venous Leg Ulcers" makes the subject come alive for the reader. However as it contains the very latest understanding about varicose veins and leg ulcers, reading it will mean the reader will probably know more about the subject than doctors and nurses who actually treat patients with venous disease.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Understanding-Venous-Reflux-Varicose-Ulcers/dp/1908586001
or:
http://www.whiteleypublishing.com/book-mark-whiteley-understanding-venous-reflux.html 

 

Lower you risk of DVT - Prof Mark Whiteley in Good Housekeeping

Good Housekeeping has an article on it's website entitled "Lower Your Risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis This Summer" by Julie Powell (link to article below).

Good Housekeeping - Advice on avoiding DVT
featuring Professor Mark Whiteley

With summer coming on and many of us going on holiday, the concerns about DVT from both heat and air travel often give cause for concern.

 

Professor Mark Whiteley is featured giving advice on how to reduce your risks. To read the article follow the link below:

http://www.goodhousekeeping.co.uk/health/health-advice/lower-your-risk-of-deep-vein-thrombosis-this-summer
 

Spider veins and thread veins of the legs treated by microsclerotherapy

Spider veins, of thread veins, of the legs are very common, affecting up to 88% of adult females - and up to 79% of adult males.



Professor Mark Whiteley explains that successful treatment needs investigation of the underlying condition using high resolution duplex ultrasound scanning, and then treatment of the underlying problem before the thread spider veins or thread veins themselves are treated.

This video shows successful treatment using microsclerotherapy injections.

See: www.thread-veins.co.uk
 

Learn at Lunch - Varicose Vein event in London

Today the Whiteley Clinic presented a live case of Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT) for varicose veins at a press event at The Royal Society of Medicine's Chandos House,  in London.

Professor Mark Whiteley speaking about varicose veins and the latest
Endovenous Laser Treatment at a London Press event today

The meeting started with Professor Mark Whiteley explaining about varicose veins and the latest research into the causes and treatments of varicose veins, leg ulcers and thread veins.

Mr Barrie Price, consultant vascular surgeon at The Whiteley Clinic, then performed a live case of EVLT under local anaesthetic on a patient with varicose veins (see video clip below)

 

The operation was performed at The Whiteley Clinic's main teaching and research facility in Guildford and the whole operation was streamed via internet to the press meeting.

Mr Barrie Price performing a live EVLT (Endovenous Laser Treatment) case
for varicose veins in The Whiteley Clinic Guildford - being streamed to London press event 

The assembled journalists were able to ask any questions of Mr Barrie Price during the operation or Professor Mark Whiteley in Q&A session after the live streaming.

For any information about future events, please contact The Whiteley Clinic through the website www.thewhiteleyclinic.co.uk.