It was anounced today that Rebecca Middleton, chief executive officer (CEO) of the charity HBA Support, has founded and launched the Vascular Voice Network. The aim of the UK-based initiative, a press release reports, is to “break down silos and amplify collective impact by supporting joint research, awareness and policy work that reflects the real-world needs of the vascular community”.
A press release details that the Network brings together more than 20 charities, umbrella groups, and advocacy organisations working on rare and common vascular conditions, and is actively welcoming new members.
“The Vascular Voice Network was born out of frustration. Too many organisations across vascular health have been working in isolation, facing similar challenges but without the mechanisms to share learning or drive collective change,” said Middleton. “This is about coming together with purpose and collaborating where it makes sense, we can have greater influence, and improve outcomes for the communities we serve.”
The Vascular Voice Network does not replace the work of individual organisations, the release notes. Instead, it offers a space to align efforts, share insight and research, and speak with a stronger, unified voice on issues that span across vascular conditions—rare or common.
“As a small charity CEO and a vascular patient myself, I’ve seen first-hand how fragmented the system is,” Rebecca stated. “The NHS [National Health Service] often treats vascular care in parts—focusing on the heart, for example—rather than the whole system or person. Neurovascular conditions and those affecting the lower limbs don’t get the focus and attention they so desperately need. We need to look at the vascular system from the head to the toe—not just the heart.
“For charities working in rare conditions, it’s even harder to get a seat at the table. The Vascular Voice Network gives us that seat, and a way to share learning and influence change for rare and common conditions, across the whole body.”
The Network has already established a Strategic Working Group and Communications & Engagement strand. A new website and LinkedIn page are now live, marking the Network’s public launch and offering a hub for updates, engagement and cross-sector connection.
“This is a much-needed initiative, and I am proud to support it,” said Matthew Bown (University of Leicester, Leicester, UK), the British Heart Foundation chair of vascular surgery and a founding member of the Network. “Vascular conditions affect millions, but clinical and research efforts are often fragmented. By bringing organisations together, we can accelerate research, improve clinical understanding and ensure that knowledge is shared, not lost.”
