Why choose Vascular Surgery?

The management of patients with Vascular Disease has advanced rapidly in the last decade. Having developed as a branch of General Surgery, Vascular Surgery is now the newest specialty to be recognised in its own right. With a new dedicated vascular training programme, this means the vascular surgeons of tomorrow will be uniquely equipped with both conventional open surgical skills and advanced endovascular skills allowing them to offer their patients the very best combination of treatment.

Whilst there is a strong emphasis on the management of patients with acutely life or limb threatening conditions, Vascular Surgery covers a wide spectrum of disease processes: Congenital Malformations, Trauma, Venous Disease, Lymphatic Disorders, Peripheral Vascular Disease, Carotid Disease and Aortic Pathologies. Few surgical specialties offer the variety of Vascular Surgery with cases ranging from the drama of repairing a ruptured aortic aneurysm to the finesse of constructing an arterial bypass graft and we are about the only specialty which operates literally from head to toe.

As a trainee what can I expect from my training programme?

Following completion of the Foundation Programme, training in Vascular Surgery comprises 2 years of Core Surgical training with recruitment into Vascular Surgery at ST3. Years ST3-4 provides a combination of Vascular Surgery and abdominal General Surgery. From ST5-8, you will develop more complex Open Vascular Surgical skills alongside Endovascular skills, with training delivered by both vascular surgeons and colleagues in Interventional Radiology.

Training in Vascular Surgery in the North East involves Vascular Units in Durham, Sunderland, Middlesbrough and Newcastle, between them offering exposure to the full range of Vascular Diseases and Interventions with experienced endovascular surgeons already established in each of the units. There is a wealth of training opportunities available with the North East having amongst the highest incidence of Vascular Disease in the UK.

Units in the North East have been at the forefront of the changes in Vascular Surgery over the last decade, particularly with the development of Endovascular Aneurysm Repair. We were amongst the first in the country to offer Endovascular training to Vascular Surgery trainees many of whom are now practicing consultants around the UK. Surgical trainees in the North East also benefit from training in the Newcastle Surgical Training Centre, based at the Freeman Hospital, which provides a unique opportunity to practise surgical skills on in a state of the art cadaveric training facility simulating a full theatre environment.

Current vacancy information    (links to HEE website recruitment page) 

To find out more about our region and Trusts please visit the Find Your Place website.