Education and Events

5 February 2026 at 7:30 pm

WHY VARICOSE VEINS RECUR AFTER TREATMENT – AND HOW WE CAN STOP THEM” PART 2

Professor Mark Whiteley
Consultant Venous Surgeon and Consultant Phlebologist Executive Chairman of the Whiteley Clinic

It is often said that “Varicose Veins always come back” – and so there has been little pressure on surgeons to improve results. However, over the last 25 years, research has enabled us to understand why varicose veins recur – and what steps we can take to stop them.  This has become especially relevant as we now know that the failure to treat varicose veins properly is not only associated with local deterioration in the leg (aching, swelling, skin damage, ulcers, bleeds and thromboses) but also, as we discussed in my last lecture, deterioration systemically due to chronic inflammation (cardiovascular disease and dementia).

Aims of the lecture:

1. To identify the major causes of recurrence:
   • Wrong vein treated
   • Right vein treated, but wrong technique
   • Natural disease progression
2. How these have been addressed and the solutions incorporated into The Whiteley Protocol®
3. Red flags to look for in those offering varicose veins treatments

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12 February 2026 at 7:30 pm

PRACTICAL TIPS ON HOW TO PERFORM MINOR SURGERY IN GENERAL PRACTICE/ DIAGNOSIS AND MANAGEMENT OF BENIGN SKIN LESIONS” EXACT TITLE TBC

Dr Karl Stainer
Clinical Lead for the Minor Surgery Service at Cohese Healthcare (formerly known as GP Care)

Overview

Dr Stainer began his medical training in Bristol in 1983 and retired from general practice in 2023 after 30 years of service. Throughout his career, he carried out the majority of surgical procedures commonly performed in general practice, including nasal cautery, ear microsuction, IUCD insertion, vasectomy, cryotherapy and corticosteroid joint injections.

During his time in a training practice, he also offered home delivery for low-risk pregnancies—although he achieved just one successful unsupervised delivery, which happened to be of his own second child!

Now focusing more on perfecting his golf swing than his suturing technique, Dr Stainer works exclusively at Litfield House for Cohese Healthcare Ltd (formerly GP Care Ltd). He is the Clinical Lead for the private minor surgery service, which he helped establish in 2006.

Learning objectives

1. To gain confidence in diagnosing and reassuring patients about benign lumps and bumps.
2. To learn a few areas of caution in differential diagnosis
3. To gain some knowledge of the common treatment modalities and equipment used for minor surgical procedures.

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26 February 2026 at 7:30 pm

ADULT ADHD – PART 2

Dr Susannah Whitwell
Consultant Psychiatrist & Co-Founder of the Effra Clinic

Dr Whitwell is a specialist in adult neurodevelopmental conditions working in this field in the NHS and in the private sector as co-founder and director of the Effra Clinic which provides diagnostic assessment and treatment for adults with ADHD in Bristol, London and online. This session provides a practical overview of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) as it commonly presents in primary care. It focuses on recognising adult ADHD beyond stereotypes, including inattentive and masked presentations, gender differences, and overlap with anxiety, depression, trauma and burnout.

The talk will outline how ADHD can be identified and screened for in general practice, including when to suspect it, how to frame a referral, and how to support patients while they await specialist assessment.

It will also address frequently asked clinical questions from non-specialists, including why demand for assessment is increasing, restarting stimulant medication after a treatment gap, what physical and mental-health monitoring is required when patients are prescribed stimulants, and how ADHD may shape the presentation, treatment response and risk profile of co-existing conditions.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Recognise common adult presentations of ADHD in primary care, including less obvious presentations and overlap with other mental-health conditions
2. Identify when ADHD should be considered and know how to initiate appropriate screening, referral and interim support
3. Understand key practical issues in the ongoing care of patients with ADHD, including medication monitoring, restarting treatment, and the impact of ADHD on co-morbid conditions

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5 March 2026 at 7:30 pm

PESSARY AND PROLAPSE MANAGEMENT

Dr Chendrimada Madhu
Consultant Gynaecologist

Emma Holloway
Advanced Nurse Practitioner - Pessary & Menopause Specialist

Overview and Learning Objectives

• Explain the management of silicone pessaries and their follow up – including instructions on changing, intervals between visits and pessary monitoring for those patients who are undertaking self management.
• Describe complications that may arise in women using vaginal pessaries.
• Discuss management and prevention of pessary related complications.

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