Minutes of the Remote Meeting of the APPG on Vascular and Venous Disease
Held on Wednesday 10th June 2020 from 2pm to 4pm, via an online platform
Agenda
14:00–14:05 Welcome and Introduction from Emma Hardy MP
14:05–15:00 Barriers to the provision of arterial care under COVID-19
14:05 – 14:20 Speaker presentation Mr Athanasios Saratzis, Associate Professor of Vascular Surgery, University of Leicester
14:20 – 14:35 Speaker presentation Dr Athanasios Diamantopoulos, Consultant Interventional Radiologist, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
14:35 – 15.00 Panel discussion
Mr Athanasios Saratzis, Associate Professor of Vascular Surgery, University of Leicester
Dr Athanasios Diamantopoulos, Consultant Interventional Radiologist, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Ms Nikki Fenwick, Vascular Nurse Specialist, Sheffield Vascular Institute
Mr Nas Ahmad, Consultant Vascular Surgeon, Manchester University Foundation Trust
Dr Paul Chadwick, Clinical Director, The College of Podiatry
15:00 – 15:55 Barriers to the provision of venous care under COVID-19
15:00 – 15:15 Speaker presentation Mr Dan Carradice, Consultant Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
15:15 – 15:30 Speaker presentation Dr Una Adderley, Director, National Wound Care Strategy Programme
15:30 – 15:55 Panel discussion
Mr Dan Carradice, Consultant Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Una Adderley, Director, National Wound Care Strategy Programme Mr Manj Gohel, Consultant Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, Cambridge University Hospitals • Dr Leanne Atkin, Vascular Nurse Consultant, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust • Dr Mike Burrows, Coordination Director, AHSN Network
15:55 – 16:00 Emma Hardy MP closes the meeting
Present
Parliamentarians
Emma Hardy MP
Baroness Masham of Ilton
Secretariat
Tomas Morel
Dan Jones
Alfred Slade
Speakers & Panellists
Mr Athanasios Saratzis, Associate Professor of Vascular Surgery, University of Leicester
Dr Athanasios Diamantopoulos, Consultant Interventional Radiologist, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust
Ms Nikki Fenwick, Vascular Nurse Specialist, Sheffield Vascular Institute
Mr Nas Ahmad, Consultant Vascular Surgeon, Manchester University Foundation Trust
Dr Paul Chadwick, Clinical Director, The College of Podiatry
Mr Dan Carradice, Consultant Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Una Adderley, Director, National Wound Care Strategy Programme
Mr Manj Gohel, Consultant Vascular and Endovascular Surgeon, Cambridge University Hospitals
Dr Leanne Atkin, Vascular Nurse Consultant, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Dr Mike Burrows, Coordination Director, AHSN Network
Aim of the meeting
Under the context of the current public health crisis, the aim of the meeting was to share and discuss existing barriers in access to treatment, and their impact to patient outcomes in people with vascular disease.
Meeting format
The meeting took the form of a webinar, facilitated and moderated by the Secretariat of the APPG.
Due to limited time scope of this event, and to avoid disruptions that may stem from a large attendance, attendees to the event joined the webinar in a listen-only mode.
The meeting begun with a short opening speech from you as the Chair of the VVAPPG and was then divided into two session: Arterial Session running from 14:05 – 15:00, and Venous Session running from 15:00 – 15:55.
Each session began with speaker presentations from vascular professionals, which were then followed by panel discussions.
Summary
Emma Hardy MP chaired a remote meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Vascular and Venous Disease to share and discuss existing barriers in access to treatment, and their impact to patient outcomes in people with vascular disease. Ms Hardy stated that the conclusions of the meeting would be synthesized to create some clear, short-term messages for the Government regarding action that can be taken to address the issues raised.
The meeting identified three key areas of concern regarding access to vascular treatment.
Access to vascular treatment
Due to the pandemic, significant resources were diverted away from vascular treatment.
Limitations have been placed on both vascular and venous services, with many services de-prioritized and all reporting some level of reduction in their services.
Lack of access to operating theatres and interventional radiology facilities during the outbreak has significantly limited the capabilities of vascular services. o Recent positive progress, particularly from the National Wound Care Strategy Programme (NWCSP), has been delayed in its implementation due to the outbreak. This progress must be protected and continued during the recovery phase.
Patient fear of accessing services due to Covid-19
Vascular patients are often at increased risk from Covid-19 due to a high likelihood of co-morbidities.
All panelists noted wide-spread fear of contracting Covid-19 amongst vascular patients, which was leading them to avoid accessing hospital services.
Ensuring safe, Covid-free patient pathways for vascular patients must be a priority during the recovery period.
A programme of patient education is needed to ensure that patients are accessing the services they need.
Managing the backlog of vascular cases
The cancellation of elective and non-urgent surgical procedures has led to many vascular patients having their operations deferred.
Clinicians are unsure about the status of many of these deferred patients, and there are concerns that their conditions may have deteriorated.
There are indications that there has been an increase in the level of amputations related to vascular disease, and priority must be given to patients who may be at risk of losing limbs to vascular issues during the recovery phase.
The disruption caused by the pandemic present valuable opportunities to re-design patient pathways and establish new ways of working to better treat vascular patients.
Increasing collaboration across disciplines, particularly with community health services, would enable significant improvements in vascular care.