Changes to vascular services will create largest service in Europe

Vascular services across King’s Health Partners have integrated. All emergency vascular operations will now take place at St Thomas’.

The vascular service treats people with diseases of their veins and arteries.

Planned (non-emergency) vascular surgery cases are gradually being moved to St Thomas’, and we expect this process to be complete by September.

By working closely together with colleagues at King’s College Hospital, we will create the first comprehensive vascular surgical service in the UK, and the largest service in Europe.

A state-of-the-art hybrid theatre, more recovery facilities and a new vascular ward are being built on the St Thomas’ site to support this exciting development.

Integrating vascular inpatient services will create a world-class clinical service and will bring significant benefits for our patients. Patients will have better access to services which will reduce waiting times, and the combination of research and clinical expertise on one site will also provide them with access to the latest medicines, and cutting-edge treatments and surgical techniques - many of which will be unavailable elsewhere in the NHS.

It will also mean we are able to deliver the best vascular teaching programmes for clinical staff - from nurses and doctors, to students and researchers.

The new hybrid theatre - a combined operating theatre and interventional radiology suite - will enable surgeons to carry out a wider range of procedures, in the same location.

All inpatient services will be based at St Thomas’ on two wards - Luke Ward in North Wing at St Thomas’, and a new ward, Evan Jones in East Wing.

While the majority of specialist inpatient surgical services will be based at St Thomas’, King’s College hospital will keep a 24/7 emergency vascular service as well as continue to provide outpatient, diagnostics and day case vascular services.