Vascular Disease Awareness Week 2010

The Circulation Foundation held its first annual awareness week on from the 8th – 12th March 2010, entitled “Are your legs killing you?”

The aim of the week was to increase awareness of the dangers of peripheral arterial disease amongst the general public and to highlight the need for early diagnosis and referral.

The week was a great success.  We kicked off with a Parliamentary Screening event at Portcullis House.  Hosted by Dr Brian Iddon MP, Vascular Nurse Specialist, Louise Allen and CF Chairman Andrew May performed ABPI scans on willing MP’s to help raise awareness of PAD.  Thankfully none of the MP’s had worrying results, but all signed our early day motion which was launched at our parliamentary reception in November 2009.

An adjournment debate was also held by Dr Iddon focus on the effect of PAD on the NHS.  He paid tribute to the CF for the work they are doing to highlight the lack of awareness both within the medical community and the general public and urged the NHS and DoH to look into diagnosis and referral.  The Independent on Sunday then ran an article featuring the CF highlighting PAD and amputation rates.

Sponsored events were held to raise money for the Foundation as well as awareness raising events in centres around the country.

York

Consultant surgeon Marco Baroni and vascular nurse Nikki Barker organised a 2.5 mile sponsored walk around the walls of York.   Approx 80 people took part, consultants, doctors, nursing staff, theatre staff, podiatrists, directorate managers, matrons and their families, all armed with banners, buckets, t shirts, and pedometers! The sun was shining and it was a day enjoyed by all that took part.

Nikki Barker, Mr Baroni and Mr Cavanagh also had a stand at York General Hospital where they gave out CF questionnaires to identify potential vascular risk, measured blood pressures for staff and visitors, gave out Circulation Foundation information and leaflets and showed various pieces of equipment.  This all brought in a lot of interest and raised awareness of vascular disease to the people that attended York Hospital that day. 

Edinburgh

Staff from the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh put their best feet forward on the 6th March 2010 as part of our first ever vascular awareness week. 

The team from the Vascular Surgery unit, completed a 13-mile sponsored walk along the Water of Leith to highlight the serious issue of vascular disease.   The day got off to a great start with the 13 strong team setting off from Balerno under sunny skies.  The Water of Leith is designated at as Urban Wildlife Site.  The wooded river banks which include patches of ancient woodland, are host to a variety of wildflowers and home to over 80 species of bird, including kingfishers.  The weather remained dry and cheerful throughout the day and towards the end of the walk, the team were met by members of their family and friends who joined the group and walked the last mile or 2.  A wonderful time was had by all!

Neil Mitchard, vascular nurse practitioner at the RIE who organised the event  see the effects of vascular disease on a daily basis.  He said: “Vascular disease has been described as ‘angina of the legs’. It can cause terrible cramping muscle pain and can lead to amputation.

“It is preventable and there are many things that people can do, such as keeping their weight down, exercising and controlling their blood pressure or diabetes, as well as trying to keep their cholesterol down. Smoking is the most common cause of vascular disease, so there is a strong anti-smoking message.”
 
“It is preventable and there are many things that people can do, such as keeping their weight down, exercising and controlling their blood pressure or diabetes, as well as trying to keep their cholesterol down. And smoking is the most common causes of vascular disease, so there is a strong anti-smoking message.”

As well as the sponsored walk, the RIE team organised a display in the main foyer of the hospital featuring posters and leaflets and also held a ‘screening’ event for the public.

Leeds

The General Infirmary at Leeds’ Vascular Department held an awareness session, a team of vascular nurses from the ward and the vascular institute research nurses manned the stall.  They gave information and leaflets about the risk factors associated with the development of peripheral vascular disease.  Members of the public and staff were also able to have their blood pressure checked and carbon monoxide level assessed.

Manchester

Vascular nurse specialist Lisa Smith, who runs a leg circulation service in North Manchester with her vascular podiatrist colleague, visited several public venues and health centres around her local area to help promote the awareness week and PAD.  They had a stand outside their local ASDA and a stall with at the busy local market handing out flyers and talking to people about PAD and risk factors.

As part of the week we also launched a patient information booklet on PAD which covers all areas of PAD, along with information on and a patient record of their risk factors and lifestyle advice.  Copies of this can be ordered from the CF office.