The VeinCare Centre

I have over 30 years’ experience of treating people with varicose veins, thread veins and other vein complications such as phlebitis, varicose eczema and varicose ulcers. I grew up in Surrey, England and I went to King’s College Hospital Medical School, London. After gaining two undergraduate academic prizes and a scholarship, I was awarded First Class Honours in my BSc in Medical Physiology and Honours in my final medical degree. I started my vascular training at St Thomas’ and St George’s Hospitals in London and it was there that I developed my special interest in vein problems. My mentors were Professor Sir Norman Browse and Professor Kevin Burnand. At that time, they had written the definitive medical textbook on vein problems. Under their supervision and mentorship, I undertook two years’ basic science research leading to the Master of Surgery degree at the University of London. I spent 13 years as a vascular consultant surgeon in the NHS and I am fully accredited as a vascular specialist with the General Medical Council of the United Kingdom. I left the NHS in 2008 to specialise exclusively in venous disease – the specialty of phlebology. As far as I am aware, I am the only doctor based in Dorset who is in full-time private practice treating people with vein problems. My wife and I founded The VeinCare Centre for the treatment of venous disease and we have gathered together an award-winning team of experts. In addition to my clinical role, in which I provide vein treatments under local anaesthetic, I am responsible for all the medical activities in the Melbury Clinic. I participate in regular business meetings, staff meetings and governance meetings. I am a member of the Medical Advisory Committee of the clinic. I am also the nominated individual with the Care Quality Commission and I have my own appraisals with NHS England as a Responsible Officer with the General Medical Council.

I am Co-Director of The Melbury Clinic and Vein Care Centre. I graduated from University College London in 1980, with a BSc in Psychology. More recently I have worked as a Counsellor, having graduated from BCPC with a Diploma in Humanistic and Integrative Counselling in 2009. I became BACP Accredited in January 2012. I retired from counselling in December 2016, and now I spend more time in my role as a Director of the Melbury Clinic and Vein Care Centre.

I have been a Registered Nurse since 1986 when I qualified from the Bath School of Nursing. The majority of my nursing career has been at Yeovil District Hospital, with my final position being Associate Director of Nursing. During my career, I continued my postgraduate education and achieved an MSc from Bath Spa University, following the Leadership and Management Pathway. Notable highlights of my career so far are: being presented to HRH Prince Edward in 2011; and being a finalist in the Nursing Standard Awards in 2015.

I have worked as a secretary in a range of organisations including estate agency, aerospace and Formula 1, prior to 15 years as a Medical Secretary at Yeovil District Hospital. Whilst there I worked for the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Team before joining the Urology Department after having my daughter. I joined The Melbury Clinic VeinCare Centre in April 2017.

I trained as an Ofsted-Registered Childminder in 2005 and I ran my own business for 10 years. During this time, I continued my studies and I completed NVQ 2 in Health and Social Care. I became a private support worker and I provided individual care, improving my knowledge of paraplegia, epilepsy and learning difficulties. While working with a range of healthcare professionals in varied clinical settings, I have developed a patient-centred approach to care, focusing on quality.

I have over 5 years’ experience as a Healthcare Assistant. I gained the level 3 diploma in Health and Social Care in 2014 and the Care Certificate in 2016. I get enormous job satisfaction from helping others and I am passionate about giving good quality care.

I qualified as a nurse (RGN) in 1985 and I completed further training in operating theatres, day surgery nursing practice and endoscopy; I worked in endoscopy for 16 years. I then developed a new role for my NHS Trust as an upper gastrointestinal cancer clinical nurse specialist, nutrition nurse and nurse endoscopist, which was both challenging and rewarding. I also attained a BA (Hons) in Health and Care during this time. After 36 years working for the NHS, I made the decision to retire from nursing.

I am a fully trained Consultant Vascular Surgeon who qualified at St George’s Hospital in London. I completed my surgical training in London and then held a consultant NHS post at St Thomas’ Hospital in Vascular Surgery. I have a record of research into vein problems and I have published many articles in prestigious medical journals on venous disease. My particular clinical interests are in minimally invasive (key hole) vein treatments, thrombosis, lymphoedema, leg ulceration and leg spider veins. I am delighted to be part of the team at the Melbury Clinic Vein Care Centre as a visiting vein specialist with practice privileges.