24 The Whiteley Clinic almost needs no introduction in the industry. As an internationally renowned centre of excellence in research and treatment of venous disease, it has cultivated an exceptional reputation on the landscape as the de facto leader in the space. Founder, Prof. Mark S Whiteley has long been an expert on this stage, performing the first endovenous (pin-hole) treatment for varicose veins in the UK in March 1999. From there, Whiteley’s name has only become synonymous with expertise with a specially created research team being founded shortly after that pioneering treatment to understand the approach, and to continually improve the diagnosis and treatment of such conditions. “This has resulted in over 120 peer reviewed research papers, over 15 chapters in textbooks, multiple international research prizes and four books,” Mark adds. As it stands today, the clinic has delivered world-leading treatment to a variety of ailments, including varicose veins, pelvic congestion, venous leg ulcers, leg thread veins, and cosmetic veins on the forehead, temples, hands, breasts, and feet. “Patients come from all over the world for our investigations and treatments. Most of our patients are normal people with venous problems, who have either had treatment elsewhere that has failed, or who know about the quality of our work and come directly to us. However, in addition, we have a large number of celebrities that come to us. Although most want their confidentiality maintained, some such as Chris Evans not only went public about his treatment but invited me onto his radio show [LINK: (https://youtu.be/ D33l-GbSb1A] to talk about the treatment and my greater body of work.” While there are a number of options for those wanting treatment for venous disease, The Whiteley Clinic has become notably distinguished for being the clinic that other authorities in the space turn to for the most challenging of cases. Perhaps nothing acts as a stronger testament to the quality of the team’s work than that fact. Putting aside a reputation for world-leading research and treatment, the clinic has cultivated its own client base through its values, which centre 2022’s Most Innovative Medical Aesthetic & Plastic Surgery Clinic - London Breaking Down the Barrier Between Eastern and Western Aesthetic Treatments Jul23780 around a dedication to quality, as Mark continues. “Our primary value is quality – from the initial contact with our staff, to the investigations and treatment, the information and support given through the process and proven outcomes in the short, medium, and long terms. Equally, our main goal is to maintain our position as the country leader in providing a quality venous service where, uniquely in the UK, both all of our treatments are research proven and protocol directed (The Whiteley Protocol®) and the results are monitored into the long term by a patient reported registry (the College of Phlebology® Venous Registry). Other goals include continuing to expand our clinics in the UK and beyond, to enable more patients to access our services, and to continue our research and training of doctors and students in venous disease. This year, a further two summer research fellows with us in 2022 were awarded places in medical school in 2023.” Where the clinic truly distinguishes itself is in the broad range of treatments and degree of specialisation, which remain almost totally unique in the greater field, even today. “Almost all of the other providers of venous treatments in the private sector in the UK fall in to one of two patterns – either an individual doctor in a room in a private hospital or clinic who only consults one or two times a week and spends the rest of the week doing other work (usually “vascular” or arterial surgery) very different from venous surgery, or specific veins clinics who employ doctors who again only work very part time at the clinic and spend most of the rest of their time doing other work and not venous surgery. As such, most only treat the simplest form of venous reflux – truncal vein reflux – ignoring more complex reflux (incompetent perforators and pelvic vein reflux) resulting in initial improvements by high recurrence rates in the medium and long terms.” In comparison to this, the staff at The Whiteley Clinic are specifically trained in the aforementioned The Whiteley Protocol®, which specifically identifies and treats all types of venous reflux, both simple and complex. There is a culture of excellence across the entire team, ensuring that the patient experience is of “paramount importance” to the day-to-day running of the clinic. This care extends beyond treatment, with patients able to access a 24/7 helpline all year round should they require additional support. A ‘lack of oversight’ certainly wouldn’t be words that anyone would associate with The Whiteley Clinic, which operates entirely When it comes to venous diseases, there are few organisations that can match the sheer impact of the Whiteley Clinic. Founded and spearheaded by noted academic in this field, Prof. Mark S Whiteley, the clinic has proven itself to be a pacesetter, driving greater change and cutting-edge advances in treatments. Following the clinic’s recognition in the Healthcare & Pharmaceutical Awards 2023, we spoke with Mark to find out more about his collective approach and work. Most Innovative Vein Clinic 2023 - UK “All patients are assessed and treated by a team of experts, as required by NICE CG168, and unlike many private practitioners who do their own consultations, scans and treatments with no oversight.”
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