A service pathway for patients at risk of peripheral arterial disease.

Every year in the UK 100,000 people are diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) (Belch at al, 2007). Those who are diagnosed are likely to suffer from cardiovascular complications and are six times more likely to die within 10 years, compared with people without PAD (Belch et al, 2007). This medical condition gives no symptoms at early stages and can develop manifesting itself through various degrees of intermittent claudication. This critical analysis will focus on the literature describing peripheral vascular problems with associated symptoms. It will also analyse current understanding of the quality of the vascular assessment within the primary care sector. As a natural consequence this piece of work will aim to highlight the role and significance of Healthcare Professionals within a new service pathway design for the community.