"Treatment of varicose veins and referral rejection"

This is quite a long ongoing issue that has gone on for some time.

The main problem is the rejection of referrals sent by my GP to vascular.

I have really significant varicose veins on my left leg, they run in my family always on the left leg. They’re not the best to look at but my issues are way beyond appearance. Every day these veins impact the quality of my life.

I am in my 30s, I have a young child, I have 2 very physically demanding jobs. These veins stop me from being able to do my job at times and have had to take time off work - unpaid - as a result of the complications they cause.

I have had many issues with them, swellings, broken skin, infections, thrombophlebitis, superficial clots, there’s been prolonged times where I’ve had to take blood thinning medication, antibiotics etc for the veins. At my age I worry about taking this medication, it’s awful on my stomach and as result there has been occasions where my stomach has been inflamed and I have had a stomach ulcer.

I live an otherwise fit and healthy lifestyle so this really impacts so many things and is in no way cosmetic.

Last year I fought to get foam scelethropy treatment and this did significantly reduce my veins. I had this in May 2024. I did end up with complications and a bad infection as the veins were so significant and twisted. The veins didn’t completely disappear but were much better, however now I have new veins, older ones are back also.

Last week was my most recent trip to the GP and hospital as I had a suspected DVT, my leg was red, very swollen, hot to touch and so painful. The medics that I saw were very concerned that this may develop. I was given blood thinners and a Doppler scan. Thankfully it was a superficial infection, but still extremely inconvenient none the less. My GP referred me again to vascular and I found out yesterday it’s been rejected.

If possible I would love to discuss this further with someone from the department. To just reject me without even seeing me again is so disappointing. I am seriously suffering with this and worry that at some point I’m going to end up with a serious DVT. It’s not acceptable to just be turned away.

I would really appreciate a response from the appropriate department.

Thanks.