title: Provision of vascular surgery in England in 2012.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In 2009 the Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland reported its recommendations for The Provision of Vascular Services for Patients with Vascular Disease. The objective is to halve the UK elective surgery mortality rate for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm to 3.5% by 2013. From 16th March 2012, statutory approval has been given by Parliament to recognise Vascular Surgery as a Specialty in the UK. This study assesses the provision of vascular surgery in acute trusts across England.
  
  
  METHODS
  From the Department of Health, 169 acute trusts were identified in England and each acute trust was emailed under the Freedom of Information Act.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a 98.8% response rate. There are currently 80 trusts in England providing acute and elective arterial and aortic surgery, with 48 vascular hubs and 32 trusts which either provide a local on call network or are currently under review. Within the 48 vascular hubs there are a mean of 4.8 consultants and 3.75 middle grades. The on call rota was on average a 1 in 6.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has shown that currently 80 trusts in England provide acute and elective arterial and aortic surgery with 48 centralised complex and arterial vascular services. An integrated vascular service will provide the best quality of care, develop the latest techniques and improve clinical standards.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth, UK. Perbinder@yahoo.com
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grewal
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hamilton
mesh_terms: D039602:After-Hours Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D002391:Catchment Area, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002497:Centralized Hospital Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019033:Delivery of Health Care, Integrated / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017558:Elective Surgical Procedures; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D061847:Hospitals, High-Volume / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D061846:Hospitals, Low-Volume / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013222:State Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data