Dorset and Wiltshire AAA Screening Programme

The Dorset and Wiltshire National Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) Screening Programme invites all men registered with a GP for a screening in the year they turn 65. Men over 65 who have not previously been screened or treated for an AAA can request screening.

The Process will:

• Identify aneurysms that need monitoring
• Discover aneurysms that could rupture, enabling treatment to be offered
• Reassure men who don't have an aneurysm
• An ultrasound scan of the abdomen is used to detect AAAs. The scan is carried out by a screener who is specially trained to work within the NHS AAA Screening Programme. The scan itself is quick, painless and non-invasive and the results are provided straight away.

The result

There are three possible results from the scan:

• Normal
• A normal result means that the aorta is not enlarged (there is no aneurysm). Most men have a normal result. No treatment or monitoring is needed afterwards. We will not invite you for AAA screening again.
• Small aneurysm found
• If we find a small aneurysm this means that the aorta is a little wider than normal. We invite men with a small aneurysm back for regular scans to check whether the aorta is getting bigger.
• Large aneurysm found
• If we find a large aneurysm this means that the aorta is much wider than normal. Only about 1 in 100 men who are screened have a large aneurysm. We give men with a large aneurysm an appointment with a specialist team to have more scans and to talk about possible treatment, usually an operation.

Discharge Summary Distribution

• All Diabetic patients who have been on the vascular ward and have a foot wound need to be referred into the appropriate diabetic foot clinic
• Patients requiring Diabetic foot clinic follow up are CLEARLY identified on the vascular ward by the vascular consultant
• Ward clerk or Vascular Nurse practioner emails copy of discharge summary according to follow up site accordingly (Where multiple email addresses are present all must be included):
• If patients also need vascular follow up (e.g. such as following bypass) a copy of the discharge summary and op note must also be emailed to the appropriate spoke secretary.

Dorchester

• Dorchester Diabetes
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Poole

• Poole Diabetes

Bournemouth

• Bournemouth Diabetes

Salisbury

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Useful links

Patient leaflets

UHD Medical Physics

Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland

Circulation Foundation (the UK Vascular Disease Charity)

Salisbury District Hospital Vascular Department Document Repository

AAA and Surveillance Policy

Referrals

For Clinicians referring to the Network

We deliver specialist Vascular and Endovascular surgery; this includes the management of arterial and venous disease including abdominal aortic aneurysm, carotid artery disease and peripheral vascular disease in the Major Arterial Centre in the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

Whilst Dorchester and Salisbury are able to provide some arterial and venous interventions, the centre in Bournemouth brings together all major elective and emergency arterial surgery for the Dorset and Wiltshire Network.

Bournemouth provides 24 hours a day 7 days a week access to a specialist vascular multi-disciplinary team including vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists and specialist nursing care.

Outpatient clinics

Outpatient clinics are available in many local hospitals attended by the vascular consultants and specialised nurses. The routine clinic locations include:

• Dorchester (Dorset County Hospital)
• Poole (Poole General Hospital)
• Bournemouth (Bournemouth General Hospital)
• Salisbury (Salisbury District Hospital)

Routine outpatient clinic

Routine referrals should be made via NHS eReferrals where possible.

Urgent and Emergency access

We utilise a Vascular 'hot clinic' function for urgent cases across the Network. The locations and specific contact details are:

• Dorchester (Monday – Wednesday, Friday)
  • Dorchester Vascular Secretariat Call 01305 255480
• Bournemouth (Everyday- Ambulatory Emergency Clinic, adjacent to Ward 18)
  • Consultant via switchboard (08:00-18:00, Monday to Friday) Call 01202 303626
    Oncall General Surgical Registrar (outside office hours)
  • Referral documentation to be sent This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Fax 01202 704623
• Salisbury (Monday, Tuesday and Thursday)
  • Vascular Coordinator (09:00-16:00 Mon-Fri) Call 01722 336262, Bleep 1112
  • Referral form to Salisbury Vascular Department
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    Fax 01722 337912

All emergency cases can be discussed directly with the oncall Vascular Consultant (in hours) or the General Surgical Registrar (out of hours) - both are available 24 hours a day 7 days a week via Bournemouth Switchboard on 01202 303626.