Private Vascular Surgery Darlington

Vascular surgery deals with all of the blood vessels, arteries, and veins that run through the body (apart from the heart and inside the head).

Our specialist at Woodlands Hospital assesses, investigates, diagnoses and treats the diseases of these vessels. Most frequently, patients present with symptoms of varicose veins, which include:

• Aching in the legs
• Swelling in the legs or ankles
• Itching
• Tired legs
• Cosmetic issues

Varicose veins most commonly occur when the superficial veins in the leg dilate and become tortuous.

Varicose veins won’t go away without medical intervention, and although they may not cause you problems symptomatically, you may be worried about the aesthetic appearance of them, especially as they can get more prominent over time.

This can affect your confidence and self-image and may affect your quality of life. With rapid diagnosis and fast access to treatment, Woodlands is the right choice for patients looking for varicose vein treatment in Darlington and further afield.

We also see patients with arterial diseases, such as arterial claudication. This presents as pain in the muscles of your leg when walking, typically in the calf, coming on after you have walked a certain distance and making you stop due to the pain.

This is caused by a blockage of the blood vessels, and the muscles not getting enough blood and oxygen. These are the sorts of symptoms and conditions that our vascular surgeons have been treating at Woodlands for over 15 years.

Please note: We don't offer vein wave, laser, EVAR or carotid surgery at Woodlands Hospital.

If you would like an expert opinion from our specialist vascular consultant at Woodlands, book an appointment online or give us a call on 01325 968 195 to talk about your options.

Advancements in vascular surgery have opened up the options available to you when looking at treatment, and open surgical operations often aren’t needed.

Radiofrequency ablation (also known as a VNUS or Venefit procedure) is one of the commonest treatments we offer at Woodlands and is fully in line with the current NICE guidelines for the management of varicose veins. This involves an injection of local anaesthetic, usually around the knee, before treating the vein that pressurises the varicose veins. This takes the tension off the varicose veins and allows them to shrink back to their normal size.

Foam sclerotherapy is another potential treatment for varicose veins. This involves injecting a solution directly into the blood vessels under ultrasound control which seals them up. Some patients aren’t suitable for a local anaesthetic treatment, so an operation under general anaesthetic can be considered. Here, the vein itself is disconnected and removed, usually through the back of the knee or the groin. Diagnostic scans at the initial consultation will help your consultant determine which treatment is most appropriate for you. You can then decide how you wish to proceed.

At your initial consultation, your consultant will take a detailed medical history and will ask about the various symptoms you have been experiencing. They will most likely want to know:

• What symptoms have you been experiencing?
• How long have you had these symptoms?
• Can you describe the pain?
• Have your symptoms become progressively worse?

They will also perform a physical examination, looking at any physical symptoms you have described, usually followed by an ultrasound scan. This scan tends to indicate the best treatment plan for your individual needs, and your consultant can guide you through all your available options. We also use arterial duplex scanning to investigate arteries.

For patients with suspected arterial disease, an MRI or CT scan is used to assess the arteries. They allow your consultant to see if surgery is required, or if the issue will resolve itself with some lifestyle changes and medication. Any prescriptions can be collected from our dedicated on-site pharmacy, saving you further unnecessary trips.

Sometimes, your leg pain may indicate other concerns, such as spinal problems or joint issues. Taking a multi-disciplinary approach, we work collaboratively with spinal and orthopaedic surgeons for diagnosis. This means your consultant may send you for further diagnostic scans if they believe you may have other issues, and this could take the form of an x-ray, MRI or CT scan, all of which can be performed on-site at our imaging department. Whoever you see, your treatment is always consultant-led and consultant delivered, ensuring a high level of specialised care throughout your visit.

Day-case varicose vein treatments have been offered at Woodlands for over 15 years, resulting in a slick process from start to finish. With a pre-assessment done over the phone, patients are then seen and measured for their compression stockings in clinic. Treatment itself takes around 40 minutes, followed by a short period of observation. All in all, patients tend to be on-site for roughly 2 hours, making this an efficient option for suitable candidates.

• Assessments ASAP – If you’ve got to the point where you are considering medical intervention for your vascular condition, you won’t want to wait for an appointment. By seeing patients rapidly, our consultants can accurately diagnose you and get you started on the right course of treatment as soon as possible.
• Patient satisfaction – 98.2% of other patients in 2019 said they would happily recommend Woodlands Hospital to friends and family in an independent report, and we’re confident that you’ll agree. 98.3% also said that the quality of care here at Woodlands Hospital was either ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’. We aim to make your stay with us as comfortable as possible, and these results highlight our continued efforts to ensure this is achieved.
• Personalised care – We believe in a bespoke approach to treatment, tailoring each experience to our patients’ needs and whatever may be best for you. This is regularly reviewed, ensuring you get the necessary treatment at every stage of your patient journey.
• Day-case treatments – Our long-standing expertise in the vascular surgery field means our varicose vein treatments can be offered as an efficient day case procedure. With no unnecessary waiting time, you’ll be in and out of our hospital usually within 2 hours.
• A multi-disciplinary approach – Our teams at Woodlands work in tandem with each other to provide you with the best possible care from start to finish. Working closely with Orthopaedic specialists, as well as a dedicated team of radiographers, physiotherapists, anaesthetists, and nurses, you have support from medical professionals every step of the way during your treatment.
• Convenient appointments – With appointments available between 10am and 8.30pm Monday-Sunday, you are sure to find an appointment slot that suits your needs and availability.
• Park with ease – We know that parking should be the least of your worries when attending hospital, so our car park has ample space to accommodate your needs. Alternatively, we are very close to Darlington Railway Station, should you wish to visit us by train. If you have a pre-existing vascular condition that needs managing, or you’ve experienced symptoms such as aching and swelling in the legs, call our friendly reception team today to book a consultation. Our consultants can organise the necessary diagnostic tests to investigate your symptoms, and outline all treatment options for you promptly, arranging any further scans or surgery if required. For peace of mind and expert care, please contact Woodlands to book an appointment now.

Accessing private healthcare with us is easy, whether you choose to pay directly or use private medical insurance.

If you are paying for yourself, we can usually offer an upfront cost which you can then choose to pay in full or access one of our easy payment options.

If you have insurance, we can arrange direct settlement with your insurance provider, although you should check in advance to see if your treatment is covered. There are usually only three steps to accessing private treatment using insurance:

• Speak to your GP: Let your GP know that you have private medical insurance during your appointment with them. Ask them to refer you to Woodlands Hospital, and in you have already chosen which consultant you would like to see, let your GP know their name so they can give you a specific referral letter. The letter should include the hospital and consultant name, as well as the recommended treatment. Your GP can also give you a referral letter with no specified consultant.
• Speak to us: Once you have your referral letter from your GP, give our friendly Patient Liaison Officers a call on 01325 341786. If your GP gets in touch with us directly with your referral, we will be in touch with you.
• Speak to your insurer: After speaking to your GP, ensure that you call your insurer and activate your insurance. Have your insurance details to hand when you call, as they will need it to confirm that the treatment you need is covered by our policy. If the treatment is not covered but you would still like to go private, you can explore alternative methods.

For more information, visit our private medical insurance page.

Woodlands Hospital first opened in Darlington in 2001, and we have been treating patients from Darlington and the wider area ever since.

We are located on Morton Park Way, opposite Dunelm and Premier Inn and over the road from Morrisons. Darlington Train Station is approximately 3.5 miles away and there is a taxi rank at the station with cabs available throughout the day. We are also a short walk from numerous bus routes, with stops at Morrisons and on Yarm Road. We are a short distance from local attractions such as Hopetown, the brick train sculpture and the Hippodrome.

We have free parking available on-site, with 4 electric vehicle charging points. The hospital has an accessible entrance, however please do let a member of the team know if you require a wheelchair and one of our friendly porters can assist you into the building.

Each of our rooms feature an en-suite for added comfort and privacy. The rooms are spacious with a remote controlled TV and free Wi-Fi available during your stay. Our catering team are on-hand to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner at regular mealtimes. We offer a range of choices available, please do let us know of any special dietary requirements you have prior to your admission.

As well as offering surgery, we have a number of fantastic facilities on-site at Woodlands.

Our physiotherapy department consists of many experienced senior physiotherapists with a range of clinical interests including hand, women's health and men's health. We also have a fully equipped gymnasium, including an anti-gravity treadmill, exercise bike and numerous weights. The team will work closely with you to reach your goals, and you can self refer to book an appointment. If you're interested, please give the team a call on 01325 341712 and choose option 2.

We also have imaging facilities on-site, including a wide-bore MRI scanner, x-ray, ultrasound, fluoroscopy and access to a CT scanner. Please note: appointments for any imaging service at Woodlands Hospital can only be made once the department receives a referral from a GMC-registered consultant. For more information, please give our friendly enquiry team a call on 01325 968 195.