UK Vein Care recently launched its first clinics in London and Birmingham.
Since opening in March, the centres have seen a significant increase in interest and are now planning to expand further across the UK. A third of adults in Britain will experience varicose veins at some point, and as the symptoms can lead to painful and debilitating side effects, timely treatment is essential.
However, waiting times for treatment on the NHS are notoriously long. The Scandinavian varicose vein specialists Nordic Health Group aims to alleviate the strain on NHS waiting lists with their UK Vein Care clinics and plans to open five or six additional centres in 2024.
Magnus Lysemose, COO of Nordic Health Group and UK Vein Care, says: “The NHS is under significant pressure with long waiting lists. Combined with an ageing population, we can expect to see a greater demand for vein care.
“Specialised vein care clinics can support the NHS by offering expert treatment to many Britons who suffer from varicose veins”. UK Vein Care currently operates five clinics in Birmingham, London, Highgate, Leicester, and Surrey.
This autumn, the company will expand its presence by opening new clinics in Carlisle, Edinburgh, Essex, Hertfordshire, and Manchester. Approximately one-third of adults will suffer from varicose veins at some stage in their lives, with about 5 percent experiencing severe complications, such as venous leg ulcers.
Despite this, the waiting list for treatment within the NHS remains lengthy. According to data from UK law firm Been Let Down, the average waiting time at English hospitals in 2021 was 57 weeks, with one hospital recording wait times as long as 82 weeks.
Magnus (pic) believes that long waiting times, coupled with inadequate public health guidelines (NICE) for initiating treatment, are insufficient in tackling the issue. “The NHS has a high threshold for when varicose veins can be treated, and many British patients are referred too late,” says Magnus Lysemose.
“Over time, the condition can worsen, making it more difficult and resource-intensive to treat. For many patients, a minor procedure can significantly improve their quality of life”.
In the past 10-15 years, advancements in varicose vein treatment have progressed rapidly. Today’s ultrasound-guided procedures are far less invasive than traditional open surgeries.
Nordic Health Group, the company behind UK Vein Care, is an international chain with clinics in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, and now the UK. Magnus Lysemose believes that this international collaboration offers many benefits to the British clinics. Magnus Lysemose says “We have accumulated a wealth of experience in treating varicose veins across various countries, and we see a great advantage in sharing knowledge across borders.
“We collect data from all our clinics, collaborate internationally, and conduct research in the field. This unique network ultimately benefits both patients and staff in all our regions.”
Despite being managed by a Nordic administration, UK Vein Care is staffed entirely by local British specialists. British employees receive training at the headquarters in Copenhagen, where administration and finances are also managed.
