My name is Jodie, and I am a Clinical Vascular Scientist, accredited by the College and Society for Clinical Vascular Science. This means I spend most of my days performing diagnostic tests on patients with suspected vascular disease, mostly in the form of duplex ultrasound. I report these scans for the Vascular Consultant Surgeons who use them to make decisions about what treatments are best for their patients.
This year the Sussex Stroke & Circulation Fund kindly provided funding for me (and some of my colleagues) to attend the Charing Cross Symposium, for two days at ExCeL London. These theme for the year was “challenges”, and the entire event consisted of three days, (23rd-25th April), 10 hours each day, three lecture theatres, and multiple workshops, demonstrations, stalls and posters, totalling over 100 hours of content. It would not be possible to see everything happening at the symposium during the three days, but the talks are recorded and available to be watched on demand for the next year, so the ability to learn goes beyond the event itself. The talks covered areas of vascular disease such as aortic aneurysms, lymphoedema, varicose veins, deep venous disease, carotid artery disease, lower limb arterial disease, diabetic foot problems, vascular access for haemodialysis and treating trauma to the vascular system.
I found the experience incredibly valuable. There are plenty of challenges in treating patients with vascular disease, so it was very useful to learn about different ways of thinking about the challenges and presenting them to patients, the new treatments which are being trialled for these conditions, and what useful information I can provide our Vascular Surgeons when performing diagnostic scans. Presenters came from all over the world, and hearing about different methods used around the world makes us reflect on how we deliver care locally. For example, one talk covered how they are able to deliver timely care to patients with urgent diabetic foot infections who live in the remote outback of Australia, using technology like cameras worn by the local doctor so a consultant hundreds of miles away can watch a live assessment of a wound.
I particularly enjoyed the talks about vascular access for haemodialysis, covering different techniques to keep these patients’ fistulas running so they can continue to receive their life saving dialysis. The speaker used an analogy of buying a used car, with a fistula you never know if you’re going to get a good one which runs for years with no trouble, or one which needs frequent servicing and new parts. I have been able to use this with patients myself several times already. During this talk, they also praised the great teaching provided by University Hospitals Sussex’s own Mr El Sakka (Consultant Vascular Surgeon) and Darren Cheal (Clinical Vascular Scientist) for vascular surgeons all over the country to learn to create fistulas, as there is a lack of training available nationally for this.
Louise Wilson has worked for many years as a Vascular Nurse Specialist at Eastbourne and Hastings Hospitals and has been a long serving committee member. Louise has said
The Sussex Stroke and Circulation Fund was pleased to support a funding request for the Oldland Mill Trust and the purchase of a community defibrillator that has now been installed.
We also encourage vascular staff to attend the Annual Vascular Society conference by contributing towards the cost of conference fees.
Very Best wishes to all our supporters for a happy festive season and a joyful 2020
