For doctors
Referral information for GPs and other health professionals, clinical tools, and our clinical reviews on venous disease.
When to refer
We follow the referral criteria of the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE CG168, 2013). Refer patients with any of:
- symptomatic primary or recurrent varicose veins
- lower-limb skin changes, such as pigmentation or eczema, thought to be caused by chronic venous insufficiency
- superficial vein thrombosis with suspected venous incompetence
- a venous leg ulcer that has not healed within 2 weeks, or a healed venous leg ulcer
- A trial of compression stockings is not needed before referral.
- The first consultation includes a duplex ultrasound scan and ABPI (where indicated), so no separate scan is needed first.
- Patients on network options that pay for specialist care only with a GP referral need your referral letter.
- Leg ulcer patients are prioritised and are usually seen in the same week.
Not for our centres: suspected acute DVT or pulmonary embolism and cellulitis with sepsis. Please refer these to an emergency department. Patients with a low ABPI (arterial disease) are referred on for vascular assessment.
Practices and contact
| Centre | Practice | Practice number | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umhlanga Vein Centre | Dr SJ Blignaut Inc | PR 1175718 | 031 566 3960 | reception@veinsurgery.co.za |
| Fourways Vein Centre | Dr Johan Blignaut Inc | PR 1175521 | 011 511 0020 | fourways@veinsurgery.co.za |
| Somerset West Vein Centre | Dr SJ Blignaut Inc | PR 1175718 | 021 205 2417 | somerset@veinsurgery.co.za |
Clinical tools
- CalculatorCEAP 2020 classifierBuild a basic or advanced CEAP code from clinical signs, aetiology, anatomy and pathophysiology, with photographs of each clinical class.
- CalculatorRevised VCSS calculatorVenous Clinical Severity Score for each leg (0 to 30), for baseline documentation and follow-up.
- CalculatorWells score for DVTTwo-level Wells score with the NICE NG158 next steps.
- CalculatorCaprini VTE risk scoreCaprini (2005) risk assessment for surgical patients, with the ACCP 2012 risk groups.
- CalculatorABPI guide and calculatorHow to measure the ankle–brachial pressure index with a hand-held Doppler, and what the result means for compression.
Clinical reviews
- Full text and PDFLipodermatosclerosis: the red leg that isn’t cellulitisClinical review for doctors: lipodermatosclerosis (CEAP C4b), how to tell it from cellulitis, how to investigate it, guideline advice and when to refer.
- Full text and PDFManagement of Varicose Tributaries: Phlebectomy, Foam Sclerotherapy and Timing Relative to Truncal Ablation – A Narrative ReviewNarrative review for doctors: ambulatory phlebectomy vs foam sclerotherapy for varicose tributaries, concomitant vs staged treatment, ASVAL and safety.