Vascular

The Vascular Surgery department is based at the Royal infirmary of Edinburgh. It has functioned as a separate and distinct unit for over 30 years. It was the first unit in the UK to provide a dedicated specialist regional service delivering emergency and elective care to patients with vascular disease. It is a tertiary referral Regional Service to the South-East of Scotland for the management of patients with Vascular disorders. It is also home to the National Service for Scotland for the management of patients with Thoraco-abdominal aortic disease.

A full range of vascular surgical services is offered at the Royal Infirmary, with particular expertise in complex open and endovascular aortic surgery, carotid surgery and vascular access surgery. Since 2001 a dedicated Vascular Laboratory run by Accredited Clinical Vascular Scientist staff has provided diagnostic services for this group of patients.

In-patients are cared for on Ward 105, a thirty bedded ward, which includes four Level 1 monitored beds. Outpatients and preadmission patients are seen in Outpatient Department 4. Vascular Ultrasound imaging is provided in the Vascular Laboratory within Outpatient Department 3.

We welcome trainees from General Surgery for six-month placements to acquire transferrable skills applicable to their future specialities. We also host 3-4 dedicated Vascular Surgery registrars on the Scotland rotation and typically 1-2 CT level trainees. We typically have 1-2 research fellows at any one time working towards higher degrees.

The on call rota for trainees is typically Monday to Thursday on call as a week 08.00 - 20.30. Weekends 08.00 - 20.30 on Friday and 08.00 - 18.00 on Saturday and Sunday. There are no night duties and we aim to maximise daytime activity for our trainees to facilitate operative and clinical development.