The Founders of the BAS discuss the Origins of the British Association of Sclerotherapy: How | What | Why | When
The BAS Brings Together Doctors, Nurses and Other Healthcare Professionals involved in the Care and Management of People with Venous Disease.
With a wealth of experience, the board members are tirelessly dedicated to providing education and networking opportunities to healthcare professionals
They give their time and expertise freely in the persuit of excellence in Vein Care
President of the BAS - an old phlebosaur!
One of the UK's leading vascular surgeons, Philip Coleridge Smith is an expert in the treatment of varicose veins and is acknowledged as an international authority in the management of venous disease using Ultrasound-Guided Sclerotherapy.
Philip often lectures at University College London and has been editor of medical journals, 'Phlebology' and 'The European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery'.
Currently President of the British Association of Sclerotherapists (BAS) and a member of the 2019 Federation of Forensic Expert Witnesses and the IDF (Independent Doctors Federation), he is also listed in Top Doctors.
Chairman of the BAS
Alastair is one of a small number of full-time varicose vein practitioners in the UK and Ireland and the only one working in Northern Ireland. He was appointed as a consultant vascular surgeon to the Southern Health and Social Care Trust in 2007 and played a central role establishing the regional varicose vein service in Northern Ireland.
He enjoys a national reputation as an authority in the management of all aspects of venous disease has been invited to speak on the expert management of varicose veins at the Royal Society of Medicine’s Venous Forum, The British Association of Sclerotherapists and Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland meetings on a regular basis in recent years. He has been a member of the board of The British Association of Sclerotherapists since 2021. He holds the prestigious Diploma in Venous Disease from the European Society of Phlebology.
He offers keyhole treatments for thread veins, varicose veins and complications of chronic venous insufficiency. Treatments offered include Endovenous laser ablation, foam sclerotherapy, microsclerotherapy and non-injectable treatment of facial veins. He has significant experience in the treatment of veins on the face, chest, hands, feet and in the management of pelvic venous disorders.
Consultant Vascular Surgeon and Phlebologist
Miss McGuinness works in Guildford. She qualified from St George’s in 1987. She was appointed a Senior Lecturer and Consultant at St Thomas’ Hospital in 1999 and Consultant Vascular Surgeon at The Royal Surrey County Hospital in 2004.
She has been an examiner for the Royal College of Surgeons in the UK and overseas, a Director of many teaching courses for consultants and is a proctor for laser companies.
She offers one-stop clinic appointments where appropriate, so that patients can be seen, have a vascular scan and then results discussed in one sitting.
Special interests
Varicose veins
Limb swelling
Lymphoedema and oedema
Leg ulceration
Venous thrombosis
Thread veins
Aistheta Skin Clinic
Gaynor has been practising as a registered nurse for 40 years and began working in aesthetics in 2011.
She worked with Dr. Gajraj at the Vein Care Centre for 6 years and established her own aesthetic clinic in 2017.
She accomplished the V300 nurse independent prescriber qualification. In 2018 Gaynor joined the team at Cosmetic Courses teaching microsclerotherapy and expanding her teaching role to run the Vein Care Training.
She is a board member of the BAS and a regional leader for the South West for the British Association of Medical Aesthetic Nurses (BAMAN).
Gaynor is committed to exceptional standards of clinical practice and patient care as well as continuous professional development.
Veins North West
Zola Mzimba is a Consultant Surgeon based in Derry Northern Ireland.
He spent the majority of his undergraduate and postgraduate training in the West Midlands along with time spent in South Africa and Northern Ireland. Post CCST he returned to Northern Ireland. Appointed as a vascular surgeon after reconfiguration of vascular services he dropped his Arterial practice to concentrate solely of venous and access work.
He led the development of regional venous services in NI concentrating varicose vein procedures in 2 high volume centres.
Zola Mzimba sits on the board of the British Association of Sclerotherapist as well as being a Council Member of the Venous Forum.
VeinCare Academy
13 years experience as a consultant vascular surgeon in the NHS.
20 years experience of running a successful CQC-registered vein clinic.
Founding member of the BAS and currently a board member.
Previously:
Surgical Tutor Royal College of Surgeons of England
Lecturer University of Bristol
Responsible Officer General Medical Council - GMC
Nominated Individual and Registered Manager Care Quality Commission - CQC
Co-Founder of the British Association of Sclerotherapists
Specialist Adviser NICE UK
EK Clinics
Emma Kelliher is the founder of EK Clinics ®️. These well established CQC Registered medical aesthetic clinics are based in Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire.
An aesthetic nurse prescriber with over 20 years’ full time experience in medical aesthetics. Having started her aesthetics career on Harley Street over 20 years ago, Emma went on to hold the role of CQC Registered Manager for one of the UK’s largest non-surgical cosmetic providers for over a decade.
She is a respected industry educator, teaching medical aesthetics including micro-sclerotherapy and is known for her commitment to clinical excellence, governance, and ongoing professional development. Emma’s extensive experience, leadership, and focus on safe, evidence-based practice position her as a trusted authority within the UK aesthetics industry.
Her passion for micro-sclerotherapy has exceeded 18 years and continues to grow.
Richard began working as the Head of Technical and Clinical for STD Pharmaceuticals in 2015. Prior to this he was a consultant and senior lecturer in oral and maxillofacial surgery at The University of Manchester.
As well as a dental degree he has an intercalated BSc in pathology, a PhD and Fellowships of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow.
He has served on national committees including the surgical royal colleges, NICE, BNF and journal editorial boards. He has published over 75 peer-reviewed papers in scientific journals including sclerotherapy.
He has presented talks on sclerosants and sclerotherapy at over 50 microsclerotherapy courses and at conferences and workshops in the UK, Europe, Australia and India. He runs the foam sclerotherapy workshops for STD Pharmaceuticals and gives talks regularly at NHS and private units.
Administrator
Victoria has joined us to support with the Annual Conference and Memberships.