Referral to a specialist vascular service

Information for the public

A specialist vascular service is a team of healthcare professionals who have training and experience in diagnosing and treating varicose veins.

If you have varicose veins that are bleeding your healthcare professional should refer you to a vascular service immediately.

Your healthcare professional should also refer you to a vascular service if you have any of the following:

varicose veins that are causing pain, aching, discomfort, swelling, heaviness or itching (whether or not you have had varicose veins before)
changes in the colour of the skin on your leg that may be caused by problems with the blood flow in the leg
skin conditions affecting your leg, such as eczema, that may be caused by problems with the blood flow in the leg
varicose veins that are hard and painful and that may be caused by problems with the blood flow in the leg
a healed or unhealed ulcer (a break in the skin that has not healed within 2 weeks) below the knee.