Introduction The Vascular Society of Great Britain and Ireland (VSGBI) Peripheral Arterial Disease Quality Improvement Framework (PAD QIF) stipulates targets for managing patients with chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI); however, it is unknown whether these are achievable. This survey aims to evaluate contemporary practice for managing CLTI in the UK. Methods A questionnaire was developed in conjunction with the VSGBI to survey the management of CLTI and canvass opinions on the PAD QIF. The survey was distributed to all consultant members of the VSGBI and through a targeted social media campaign. Results Forty-seven consultant vascular surgeons based at 36 arterial centres across the UK responded (response rate from arterial centres = 46%). Only 14.3% of centres provided outpatient consultation within the target of seven days from referral, with only one centre providing revascularisation within the target of seven days from consultation. For inpatient management, 31.6% provided surgical and 23.8% endovascular revascularisation within the target of three days from assessment. While 60% of participants believe the PAD QIF’s 5-day ‘admitted care’ pathway is achievable, only 28.6% thought the 14-day ‘non-admitted care’ pathway was feasible. Challenges to meeting these targets include the availability of theatre space and angiography lists, and availability of outpatient appointments for patient assessment. Conclusions The opinion of UK vascular surgeons indicates that achieving the targets of the PAD QIF represents a major challenge based upon current services. Adapting existing services with a greater focus on providing an ‘urgent’ model of care may help to potentially overcome these challenges.

The 2021 iteration of the Vascular Surgery Curriculum represents the first major change to vascular training since being awarded separate specialty status by the General Medical Council (GMC) in 2013.1 Developed following the ‘Shape of Training’ review and in light of updated GMC guidance on postgraduate curricula, the new curriculum aims to specify the professional standards and clinical capabilities required to provide trainees with the competencies to be a day 1 consultant vascular surgeon in modern clinical practice.2,3 The process of transition started in August 2021, with all trainees migrating to the new curriculum by August 2023. From a trainee perspective, the new curriculum offers a number of positive changes which should improve the process of working towards certification.