The Vascular Access Team provides specialist and general treatments within the vascular access (VA) speciality. These range from line insertion, care and maintenance, troubleshooting, unblocking and removal. We also provide educational and training opportunities for staff, based on service requirement.

We accept referrals for inpatient and outpatient service users. We support our clinical colleagues with complicated processes such as ultrasound peripheral cannulations.

We serve both adult and paediatric patients and often work in collaboration with Bromley Health, other district general hospitals and acute hospitals to provide joint care to patients.

We provide services Monday to Friday from 8am to 6pm.

Preparing for your appointment

Before your appointment

Please check your appointment letter to see if you need to do anything to prepare for your appointment.

Please bring the following to your first outpatient appointment:

• your appointment letter
• any samples requested in your appointment letter
• a list of questions you would like to ask

During your appointment

Please allow at least 45 minutes for your visit.

You will be seen by one of the VA clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) who will talk through with you what will happen and allow you to ask any questions you may have. For procedures like line insertion or removal of tunnel cuffed central lines we will require you to sign a consent form. You can still reserve the right to withdraw your consent.

At the end of your treatment

Your peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) line will need to be removed at the end of your therapy by the district nurses, or by attending an outpatient appointment that will be arranged by your doctors before your discharge home or into the community. The vascular access CNS can be contacted if there is no staff available to remove the PICC line in the clinic.

Contact

Tel:  01689 864231 or 01689 863462.

Email: Kch-Tr.VATeam@nhs.net

For referrers

All requests should be submitted via an electronic request system (EPR or EPIC).

Cancellations to requests should be discussed with the Vascular Access Clinical Nurse Specialist on 01689 864231 or 01689 863462.