Five Rivers Vascular Unit

Our Regional Vascular Surgery Unit provides services for patients in North Essex and Suffolk focusing on the diagnosis and surgical treatment of disorders of circulatory system.

We cater for a population of over 850,000 for patients requiring a whole range of vascular treatments, both as an emergency or elective (planned) procedure.  The service also provides AAA Screening as part of the national abdominal aortic aneurysm screening programme.

Patients can attend clinic and have investigations locally at both Colchester and Ipswich hospitals.  However major vascular surgery is performed in Colchester hospital which is the hub for the vascular service.

Wivenhoe Five Rivers Vascular Unit Accessibility information from AccessAble

We offer a wide variety of treatments for your vascular conditions:

• Aortic aneurysm repair either with an open graft or a endovascular stent graft
• Repair of complex abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA)
• Leg ulcer and diabetic foot problems, often requiring improvement in the blood vessels with balloon stretching of the arteries or bypass surgery
• Patients who have suffered stroke may require surgery for their carotid arteries in the neck
• Renal access surgery to enable patients to undergo dialysis for kidney failure
• Rib removal for long-term shoulder and arm pain
• Botox injections and surgery for excessive sweating
• Minimally invasive treatments for varicose veins including, radiofrequency treatment and foam injection
• Hernia repairs and lumps & bumps removal

We may send you for diagnostic tests such as:

• vascular ultrasound scans
• x-rays
• CT and MRI scans.
• exercise tests (CPEX)
• vein mapping
• aortic ultrasound screening

Our excellent team consists of seven vascular consultants, five interventional radiology consultants, an associate specialist, a nurse consultant, a surgical care practitioner, three specialist vascular nurses and a leg ulcer nurse specialist.  We also have a full complement of junior staff and trainees and we are a major training centre for the region.

The vascular service works closely with the diabetic foot service, the renal team and the stroke team.

We hold nurse-led clinics for leg ulcers and podiatry treatments.

For information about specific conditions please go to the NHS Choices website

Contact our Vascular Departments

Colchester Hospital

Vascular Department 

Address: Turner Road, Colchester, Essex, CO4 5LJ

Contact number: 01206 747 474

Vascular Secretaries for Colchester

Contact: 01206 742 454

Email the vascular secretaries at Colchester Hospital

Ipswich Hospital

Vascular Department – Ipswich Hospital

Address: Heath Road, Ipswich, IP4 5PD

Contact number: 01473 712 233

Vascular Secretaries for Ipswich

Contact: 01473 712 233

Email the vascular secretaries at Ipswich Hospital

Service Manager for Colchester & Ipswich: email Amanda Austen

Operational Co-ordinator for Colchester & Ipswich: email Sian Hammond