On Tuesday, 6th of May, the VVAPPG hosted its Parliamentary Drop-In, Leading Vascular Care: Fit for the Future, in Dining Room B at the Houses of Parliament. The event brought together over 20 MPs and Lords alongside a wide range of stakeholders from the vascular care sector, making for a busy and vibrant room.
The session was opened by Jim Shannon MP, Chair of the VVAPPG, who welcomed attendees and set the tone for the discussion on improving vascular care. This was followed by a keynote speech from NHS England’s National Clinical Director for Elective Care, Stella Vig, who shared her insights on the challenges and opportunities within the sector. Patient advocate Roger Perfitt then provided a powerful personal perspective, highlighting the lived experiences of those directly impacted by vascular conditions.
After these opening remarks and keynote contributions, the event transitioned into an open networking forum. Here, MPs and Lords, in their capacity as legislators engaged directly with strategic council members, surgeons, industry supporters, and other sector representatives. This interaction allowed them to hear first hand from experts about the critical role they play in improving vascular care and addressing the challenges faced by patients and healthcare professionals alike. The discussions helped to deepen their understanding of the sector’s realities, while also exploring how their influence and role as policymakers can drive forward improvements in the sector.
By fostering meaningful dialogue between parliamentarians and sector leaders, the event created valuable opportunities to strengthen collaboration and support the future of vascular and venous services.
Please see this link for all of the photos taken at the event.
