PROVISION OF VASCULAR SURGICAL SERVICES IN THE OXFORD REGION

Vascular surgical practice across an entire health region was studied. There was a mean of 115.9 inpatient episodes and 46.9 vascular recons tructions per 100000 population, with considerable variation between d istricts. Vein utilization for infrainguinal grafts was greater in the teaching hospital and few femorodistal grafts or carotid endarterecto mies were carried out elsewhere; there were few tertiary referrals of elective vascular cases. Only two districts have formal arrangements f or emergency vascular 'on-call'. There is marked inequality of provisi on of vascular surgical services across the region.