Silent crisis of venous care in UK

High quality evidence clearly supports the treatment of common venous diseases. Treatment of symptomatic varicose veins improves quality of life and is highly cost effective,1234 while early treatment of venous leg ulcers speeds healing, reduces recurrence, and potentially reduces costs.5678 Despite this strong evidence, and National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance recommending referral of people with symptomatic primary or recurrent varicose veins,2 access to treatment for symptomatic varicose veins is restricted in much of the UK, and people who develop leg ulcers experience delay in getting the treatment they need for underlying venous disease.910

Preventing and treating leg ulceration is perhaps the most pressing issue. The importance of early referral and specialist treatment was highlighted in the 2019 report of the All Party Parliamentary Committee on Vascular and Venous Disease, Venous Leg Ulcers: a Silent Crisis.10 Community treatment of venous leg ulcers costs the NHS £1bn-£2bn annually, much of which could be saved by correcting …