As we observe World Vascular Surgery Day on 6 August, it is important to draw attention to one of the most overlooked aspects of healthcare which is the health of our blood vessels. Our arteries and veins form an extraordinary network that supplies oxygen and nutrients to every organ and every limb. Over the past two decades, vascular surgery has undergone a remarkable transformation. World Vascular Surgery Day should not be just another date on the calendar. The greatest success in vascular surgery is not performing a complex operation.