Our aim is to improve the early detection and ensure best clinical treatment for all people with PAD, to improve quality of life, cardiovascular and limb outcomes.

This is an assessment and treatment service, for all people registered with a North Manchester GP, who are suspected or know to have lower limb peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

We provide the following:

• Awareness raising to encourage early referral of peripheral arterial disease
• Offering people an appointment within 1 month of referral, in a choice of 5 clinic locations
• Performing non-invasive peripheral arterial assessments, diagnosis and severity assessment
• Providing key education on cardiovascular risks and healthy options
• Promoting best medical therapy in partnership with General Practices
• Negotiating key healthy lifestyle changes – smoking, exercise and well-being
• Referring people with severe or deteriorating circulation problems directly to Vascular Consultants
• Referring people with non-vascular symptoms to other clinical services as necessary

The service is focussed on providing close to home access at a range of clinic venues around North Manchester, including:

• Harpurhey Health Centre
• Newton Heath Health Centre
• Cornerstone Centre, Beswick
• Cheetham Hill Primary Care Centre

Referrals can be made by all health professionals directly to the service.

You will usually be contacted initially by our Admin staff at Harpurhey Clinic, to organise a convenient appointment, by phone and in writing.

When they attend an appointment they will be seen by one of our Vascular Specialist Podiatrists or Nurse, who will take a clinical history and ask questions about leg and foot symptoms.

They will then perform a clinical assessment, which involves checking pulses in the arms, feet, knee and groin areas (wear loose clothing), followed by taking blood pressures in both arms and at the ankles.

This will help confirm if there are any lower limb arterial problems and the severity of any arterial disease found. They will then explain the findings and plan appropriate treatment, lifestyle changes and support.

This may involve medicines, quitting smoking, increasing exercise and in a few cases referral for a vascular surgical opinion. All people with peripheral arterial disease will then be managed in partnership with their GP and seen back for a review within 3 – 12 months.

You will need to bring a full list of your medicines and any clinical letters you have about your medical conditions.