Professor Mark O'Donnell, a consultant vascular surgeon in Belfast, has expanded his private practice capacity to perform more than 850 minimally invasive vascular procedures annually across his Northern Ireland facilities. The move underscores sustained patient demand for consultant-led vascular care and marks a significant step in the growth of specialist private surgery services in the region.
With over two decades of specialist experience, Professor O'Donnell provides direct access to a consultant surgeon rather than a delegated clinical team. His work focuses on diagnosing and treating venous conditions, particularly varicose veins—a condition affecting a significant portion of the adult population that, if untreated, can lead to chronic pain, skin changes, and venous ulceration. The practice operates from private facilities in Belfast, structured to deliver streamlined, consultant-directed care, ensuring patients are assessed, treated, and followed up by the same specialist throughout their care pathway. This model contrasts with larger institutional settings where clinical responsibility is often distributed across multiple practitioners.
The practice offers a range of procedures tailored to each patient's condition. Radiofrequency ablation uses heat delivered via a small catheter to close affected veins, typically avoiding general anesthesia. Foam sclerotherapy provides an injectable option for smaller varicosities, while open surgery remains available for complex cases where less invasive methods are unsuitable. This comprehensive approach to varicose veins treatment in Northern Ireland ensures patients across the severity spectrum can access appropriate interventions under the care of a single experienced consultant, reducing the need for referrals to other facilities.
The expansion comes as more patients in Northern Ireland seek private pathways for vascular assessment, especially when NHS waiting times for elective procedures extend over many months. Professor O'Donnell's practice offers direct access to consultant assessment without requiring a GP referral, allowing individuals with symptoms like leg heaviness or visible varicosities to begin diagnosis without delay. With over 850 procedures performed annually, the practice operates at a volume that reflects both the breadth of conditions managed and the procedural consistency associated with a high-throughput specialist setting—factors linked to dependable clinical outcomes.
"Patients across Northern Ireland deserve timely access to experienced vascular care without having to travel to major centres elsewhere in the UK," said Professor O'Donnell. "Our focus is on making sure every patient is seen by a consultant at every stage, from the first assessment through to follow-up, and that the most appropriate procedure is selected based on their individual anatomy and clinical picture."
Professor O'Donnell's practice, based in Belfast, specializes in minimally invasive venous procedures and offers consultant-led care for varicose veins across Northern Ireland. For more information, visit Mark O'Donnell Vascular Surgery.
