UHSussex is the host for the Sussex Vascular Network which provides care pathways for patients across Sussex.
Purpose of the network
The purpose of the Sussex Vascular Network is to provide the highest quality vascular and interventional radiology (IR) services to patients within Sussex, which are compliant with NHS England national service specifications.
The network has a single Arterial Vascular Centre based at the Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton which is supported by Non-Arterial Units (Spokes).
The Network provides suitably qualified vascular consultants and clinical staff to undertake scheduled inpatient and outpatient clinics at key hospital sites, which allows patients within the spoke site catchment areas to receive treatment closer to home.
The three trusts included in the clinical network are:
- University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSussex) – host Trust, arterial centre located in Brighton, spoke services also available in Brighton and West Sussex
- East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (ESHT) – spoke Trust, non-arterial
- Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH) – spoke Trust, non-arterial
The map shows the services at each location which include:
Brighton
- Arterial surgery – open and endovascular (cartoid, AAA, major amputation)
- Emergency admissions
- Specialists vascular IR
- Out of hours vascular opinion
- Onward care for Brighton and Hove patients
- Outpatient clinics
- Varicose veins
- Minor amputations
- Vascular access for chronic renal failure
- Claudication clinic
- Vascular laboratory
Worthing
- Minor amputations
- Diabetic foot complications and management
- Onward care
- Varicose veins
- Vascular access for chronic renal failure
- Outpatient clinics
- IR facilities, non-vascular and non-complex vascular
- Claudication clinic
- Vascular laboratory
Chichester
- Outpatient clinics
- Diabetic foot clinic
- Varicose veins
- Minor amputations
- Claudication clinic
- Onward care
Haywards Heath
- Diabetic foot complications and management
- Onward care
- Varicose veins
- Vascular access for chronic renal failure
- Outpatient clinics
- Claudication clinic
Shoreham
- Vascular laboratory (standard scanning only)
Redhill
- Minor amputations
- Diabetic foot complications and management
- Onward care
- Varicose veins
- Outpatient clinics
- IR facilities, non-vascular and non-complex vascular
- Vascular laboratory (not UHSussex)
- Claudication clinic
Eastbourne
- Outpatient clinics
- IR facilities, non-vascular and non-complex vascular
- Varicose veins
- Minor amputations
- Claudication clinic
- Vascular laboratory
- Diabetic foot service
- Onward care
Hastings
- Diabetic foot complications and management
- Onward care
- Varicose veins
- Outpatient clinics
- IR facilities, non-vascular and non-complex vascular
- Claudication clinic
Service model
The service model is defined through the specialised vascular services specification.
Governance structures
The Network is support by a network manager and a network clinical lead.
A network board and clinical governance group involving clinicians, managers, commissioners and patient representative from across Sussex are in place.
The network is accountable to NHS England.