Varicose Veins: from cosmetic blemish to limb threatening ulceration

On the 22^nd September the Spire Cambridge Lea Hospital organised a GP educational meeting in the wonderful surroundings of the Duxford Air Museum. As chairman of the Consultant’s Committee it was my pleasure to welcome over 150 General Practitioners to hear lectures from Cambridge experts on a wide range of medical conditions. I chaired the morning session which included presentations on cardiology, orthopaedics and gastroenterology. The title of my own lecture was ‘Varicose Veins: from cosmetic blemish to limb threatening ulceration’. This provided a valuable opportunity to explain why varicose veins must not underestimated and dispel some of the common myths and misunderstanding surrounding the condition. I described the latest minimally invasive techniques for the treatment of varicose veins and thread-veins which stimulated a lot of interesting questions. The GPs were particularly interested in the way these techniques have totally changed the treatment of varicose veins to a local anaesthetic walk-in, walk-out technique with almost immediate return to normal activities.

Annual scientific meeting between Cambridge and Yale Universities

On the 9th to the 11th September I took part in the annual scientific meeting between Cambridge and Yale Universities at Trinity Hall College, Cambridge. As usual, the meeting provides a fascinating and highly enjoyable opportunity to hear the latest research findings from both centres. It also provides an opportunity to reinforce academic and social links with colleagues from across the Atlantic. One such link is with my good friend Alan Dardik, Associate Professor of Surgery at Yale. Earlier this year Alan and I collaborated to write a textbook for higher surgical trainee surgeons entitled ‘Outpatient Surgery’ which has been very well received. As part of the meeting we presented a signed copy of the book to the joint organisers Dr John Bradley (Cambridge) and Professor Jordan Porber (Yale) as a vote of thanks for all their hard work.