People with common vascular diseases like blood clots, stroke and varicose veins can now benefit from a new specialist medical centre.

The West London Vascular and Interventional Centre in Northwick Park Hospital was opened by mayors from Brent, Ealing and Harrow on June 25 (Tuesday) and specialises in treating conditions affecting the body’s blood vessels.

Other vascular diseases include aneurysms, deep vein thrombosis and limb ischemia, where blocked arteries can lead to amputation.

One patient to benefit from the new centre is Gordon Sheridan who suffered crippling leg pains which prevented him riding horses for several years.

He could barely walk as constricted arteries reduced the amount of blood to his legs.

Watford Observer:

(Ealing mayor Dr Abdullah Gulaid, Brent mayor Ernest Ezeajughi and Harrow mayor Nitin Parekh opening the new vascular centre)

Mr Sheridan, 67, said: “My heart felt like it was going to pop out of my chest it was doing so much overtime. It was incredibly painful to walk any distance.”

He benefited from a minimal procedure that involved inserting a wire into his groin to deliver two small tubes into the arteries at the top of each leg.

The procedure, interventional radiology, involves the insertion of a long wire into the arteries via a small puncture wound in the groin or leg.

This allows for access to any part of the body helping to clear obstructions and deliver small devices to reopen narrowed arteries and veins.

These techniques help to reduce risks and means shorter hospital stays, lower costs, greater comfort and quicker recovery.

Dr Lorenzo Patrone, a vascular and interventional radiologist, said: “Arteries sometimes tend to clog up as we get older which means blood struggles to get into affected limbs.

“The stents force the arteries back open improving the blood flow and we’re delighted to get Gordon back in the saddle.

Professor Martin Malina said: “This is the first place in the UK to bring vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists together providing a one stop service for patients under one roof.

“We’re training a new generation of vascular specialists who are skilled in both disciplines and hope this will set an example for the rest of the UK.”