London’s first nurse-led varicose vein intervention service launched

A team of specialist vascular nurses at Guy’s and St Thomas’ have launched London’s first nurse-led varicose vein intervention service, to treat patients with symptomatic varicose veins and venous leg ulcers.

Varicose veins are swollen, twisted veins under the skin, usually on the legs. They are common and can cause pain, aching or a feeling of heaviness, as well as skin changes, swollen ankles or legs. 

Venous leg ulcers are open, often painful, wounds that take more than 2 weeks to heal. They can include pain, itching and swelling, discoloured or hardened skin, and the sore may produce a foul-smelling discharge.

Since launching the nurse-led service in August, the team at Guy’s and St Thomas’ has held monthly lists and treated 42 patients – involving 55 legs – with a foam sclerotherapy injection treatment, helping to reduce the NHS backlog.

Foam sclerotherapy involves injecting a special foam into the veins. The foam scars the veins, which seals them closed. The injection is guided to the vein using an ultrasound scan. 

Lily Benton, the vascular nurse practitioner who launched the service at Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “This has involved a huge amount of work, training, and dedication to develop and implement a nurse-led pathway for patients who can routinely wait over a year from referral to treatment. 

“Although considered non-urgent cases, these patients live with symptoms that have a real negative impact on their day to day life, so we are incredibly proud to be able to offer this service.”

Fast facts
•    A venous leg ulcer is the most common type of leg ulcer, accounting for more than 60% of all cases. They are estimated to affect around 1 in 500 people in the UK, although they become much more common with age.
•    The waiting list times for venous leg ulcer patients at Guy’s and St Thomas’ is down to less than 6 weeks thanks to the new service – it was previously up to 12 weeks and over
•    Foam sclerotherapy, alongside other superficial venous treatments, has been shown to have a positive impact on healing rates for venous ulcers