About Us
The name Esklymphology comes from the River Esk. Lymphology is the study of the lymphatic system and conditions such as lymphoedema. The metaphor of a river is a good way to describe the lymphatic system as it moves and balances fluid in our body (and also helps to deal with infection).
Esklymphology was established by Dr Anne Williams in 2004. Anne qualified as a nurse in 1980, is an experienced lymphoedema nurse consultant, and also a retired university lecturer in nursing. She has a background in cancer, palliative care and community nursing, and has worked in many lymphoedema services in NHS, voluntary sector and private settings in Scotland and London. Anne is registered with several health insurance companies, including BUPA and Aviva, to provide lymphoedema treatment and manual lymph drainage therapy (MLD).
Anne originally qualified in the Vodder method of manual lymphatic drainage/lymphoedema care in 1995, training and updating in the UK, Canada and Austria over the years. Anne also has a background as a researcher, teacher and writer.
Anne is also a Restore Scar Practitioner, training with Emma Holly and holds qualifications in Tripudio movement systems, kinesio-taping, aromatherapy, sports massage, and clinical hypnotherapy. Anne was awarded a PhD in 2011, for her research study into lymphoedema self-care in women who have had treatment for breast cancer.
Anne was a lecturer at Edinburgh Napier University, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh, and the University of the West of Scotland. She previously worked with Marie Curie Cancer Care, the lymphoedema self-management programme at The Haven Centres in Lanarkshire, and was an External Consultant to the NHS Highland Lymphoedema Project. Anne won the Journal of Wound Care Patient Wellbeing Award in 2017.
Anne has written over 30 journal papers and book chapters, and took a key role in developing the Best Practice Guidelines for the Management of Lipoedema in the UK. She currently collaborates with Lipoedema UK.
Some examples of Anne’s work:
Williams, A et al (2020) Person-centredness and long term conditions. Chapter in McCormack et al. Fundamentals of Person-centred Healthcare Practice. Wiley Blackwell.
Williams, A. (2019) Lymphoedema. Chapter in. Llewellyn C, Ayers S, McManus C et al (eds) The Cambridge Handbook of Psychology, Health and Medicine, 3rd Edition, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
Williams, A. (2019) A review of the evidence on liposuction for lipoedema and Dercum’s disease. Journal of Lymphoedema, June
Williams, A. (2018) Understanding the challenges of lipoedema. Journal of Community Nursing, 32 (2), 34-41
Williams, A. (2016) A review of the evidence for adjustable compression wrap devices, Journal of Wound Care, 25, 5, pp. 242-247,
Williams, A and Whitaker, J. (2015) Measuring change in limb volume to evaluate lymphoedema treatment outcome. European Wound Management Association Journal, 15 (1), pp.27-32, May.
Whitaker, J. Williams, A. et al (2015) Clinical audit of a lymphoedema bandaging system: a foam roll and cohesive short stretch bandages. Journal of Wound Care, 24 (3), pp.83-94.
McGowan, A., Williams, A., Davidson, F. and Williams, J. (2013) A self-management group programme for people with lymphoedema: experiences from a Third Sector Project. British Journal of Community Nursing, Chronic Oedema Supplement, October, pp.S6-12.
Williams, A. (2012) Living with and beyond breast cancer. Journal of Community Nursing, 26 (1), pp.6-8, 10.
Williams, A. (2010) Manual lymphatic drainage: exploring the history and evidence base. British Journal of Community Nursing, Supplement, 15 (4); pp. S18-23.
Williams, A. (2008) Lymphoedema. In: Corner, J. & Bailey, C.G. (eds) (2008) Cancer Nursing: Care in Context. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing, Chapter 22, pp.496-503.
Williams, A.F. & Mortimer, P.S. (2007) Lymphoedema of the lower limb: causation, assessment and management. In: Morison, M., Moffatt, C. & Franks, P. (eds) Leg ulcers: a problem based approach. Edinburgh: Mosby Elsevier, Chapter 14, pp.243-260.
Williams, A.F., Franks, P.J. & Moffatt, C.J. (2005) Lymphoedema: estimating the size of the problem. Palliative Medicine, 19 (4), pp.300-313.
Williams, A.F., Vadgama, A., Franks, P.J. & Mortimer, P.S. (2002) A randomized controlled crossover study of manual lymphatic drainage therapy in women with breast cancer-related lymphoedema. European Journal of Cancer Care, 11 (4), pp.254-261.
