Vascular surgery

Vascular Surgery services are based at Bradford Royal Infirmary. The service includes facilities for outpatient clinics and treatments, day-case treatments, and emergency and planned hospital admissions.

The team work closely with colleagues in interventional radiology and other specialties to provide a comprehensive range of interventions to treat vascular conditions.

• Abdominal aortic aneurysm: An enlargement of the main blood artery from the heart to the legs. Treatment options offered in Bradford include stent graft repair (EVAR) and open surgery.
• Symptomatic carotid artery stenosis. A narrowing of the artery in the neck is the cause of some cases of stroke. We offer carotid endarterectomy surgery to improve blood flow and reduce stroke risk for suitable patients.
• Peripheral vascular disease. Blockages and narrowings of arteries to the legs can cause pain on walking and more severe problems caused by reduction in circulation to the legs and feet. In appropriate cases arteries are stretched or unblocked using a balloon (angioplasty) or stent. For other patients surgery to remove or bypass a blockage is appropriate.
• Diabetic foot ulceration and infection. The vascular unit work closely with the podiatry service to treat patients with ulceration or infection of the feet caused by nerve damage (neuropathy) or lack of circulation, particularly when caused by diabetes.
• Amputations. Patients who need limb amputation due to blockages of arteries, infection in diabetes and other causes have access to a comprehensive team that will help them recover and regain as much mobility as possible after amputation.
• Varicose veins. Varicose veins can cause pain and leg swelling, and skin problems that can lead to ulceration. Patients with chronic venous insufficiency are assessed using ultrasound and have access to a full range of treatments including surgery, injection sclerotherapy, and endovenous thermo-ablation using radiofrequency ablation or laser.
• Wound care and the treatment of hard-to-heal leg ulcers. We work closely with the tissue viability, wound healing and leg ulcer services to give patients with wounds access to treatments for artery and vein disease to improve healing, and offer a comprehensive wound healing service for hard to heal leg ulcers and wounds.
• Access procedures. We offer surgery for different types of dialysis, including fistula formation and a.v. graft surgery for haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis catheter insertion. We also contribute to the service for the insertion of lines, and port insertion for patients that require prolonged or complex intravenous treatments including chemotherapy.

Outpatients West, at Bradford Royal Infirmary, has facilities for outpatient consultations with members of the vascular surgery team and the wound healing team, including the leg ulcer service.

The vascular laboratory and vascular treatment room are also within the outpatients west area, facilitating investigation and treatment of appropriate patients.

Daycase admissions to ward 5 are used for patient admitted for treatment of varicose veins; radiological interventions, such as angioplasty and stenting, to treat blockages and narrowings of the arteries; and vascular access surgery such as fistula formation and central venous line insertion.

Ward 26 is a 28-bedded dedicated vascular unit for patients requiring admission for the treatment of vascular disease, diabetic foot problems or major amputations. We work as a multidisciplinary team and utilise theatre facilities immediately adjacent to the ward area.

For appropriate conditions, we work closely with stroke, renal, diabetes and podiatry services and colleagues in occupational therapy, physiotherapy and discharge planning to optimise patient treatment and progress rehabilitation and discharge.

Emergency admissions are frequently via the acute surgical admissions unit (ward 20). We also provide vascular input to patients admitted under other disciplines when required; particularly the renal ward, stroke unit, and diabetic foot clinic.

• Mr D. Wilkinson MBE MD FRCS Consultant Vascular Surgeon
• Mr NJ Shaper MD FRCS Consultant Vascular Surgeon
• Mr KG Mercer MD FRCS (GenSurg) Consultant Vascular Surgeon
• Mr KJ Molloy MD FRCS (GenSurg) C0nsultant Vascular Surgeon

Telephone
To contact us for appointment queries please call 01274 274274.

Monday – Friday 09.00 – 17.00

Please see the AccessAble pages on Vascular Services at Bradford Royal Infirmary and accessible parking. Information on general car parking at the hospital is available here.

Vascular surgery – Royal College of Surgeons: This website provides lots of useful information for patients about vascular surgery.

The Bradford, Airedale, Calderdale and Huddersfield Vascular Network is a multidisciplinary team which provides vascular cover across a wider geographical area, which facilitates centralised specialist treatment when it is required, and management and treatment closer to home by a specialist team when appropriate.

• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm EVAR (Endovascular Aortic Repair)
• Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Repair
• Angioplasty and Stent Insertion
• Angiography and Angiogram
• Carotid Endarterectomy
• Femoropopliteal and Femorodistal Bypass
• Intermittent Claudication
• Leg Amputation

Our talented and compassionate staff care for a diverse population, which is what makes Bradford such a special place to work. Choosing the right people is key to our success. If you think you’ve got what it takes, please contact us by email at careers@bthft.nhs.uk to discover more about our latest opportunities.