DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release issued by COI News Distribution Service. 19 September 2008
Sir Liam
Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer, announced today the publication
of a risk assessment for venous thromboembolism, recommended for
all patients admitted to hospital in England.
Venous thromboembolism in hospitalised patients is responsible
for around 25,000 deaths in England each year. The risk assessment
being published today will be provided to hospitals along with
guidance to help them identify patients at risk of developing
venous thromboembolism.
Sir Liam said:
"The dangers of venous thromboembolism in hospitalised
patients have long been recognised, but our challenge was to find
a systematic approach to identify patients most at risk.
"Creating a standardised national preventive strategy on
this scale is a world first. We anticipate that, by hospitals
implementing risk assessment for all patients admitted to
hospital, we can make the goal of reducing death from venous
thromboembolism more attainable. This simple step has the
potential to save thousands of lives each year."
In 2005 Sir Liam established an independent expert working group
to look at how current best practice and guidance on venous
thromboembolism could be promoted and implemented. Following
publication of the group's report and recommendations, an
implementation working group was established to develop a risk
assessment and raise awareness of venous thromboembolism
throughout the NHS.
The risk assessment will be available for use by all hospitals
and has the potential to prevent many avoidable deaths. It was
developed with key stakeholders, including the National Institute
for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). NICE's supporting
guidelines for all hospitalised patients are scheduled to be
published in autumn 2009.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. Venous thromboembolism includes the conditions deep vein
thrombosis - when a clot forms in a vein, usually in the leg - and
pulmonary embolism, which occurs when a blood clot that has formed
in a vein breaks off and lodges in the lung. Deep vein thrombosis
is more common in those who are ill and those who are immobile;
patients in hospital are more vulnerable because they meet both
these criteria. Deep vein thrombosis may lead to pulmonary
embolism, which can be fatal.
2. The Risk Assessment for Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is issued
by the Department of Health for use by hospitals.
3. It is available on the Department of Health website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/VTE
4. The Implementation Working Group (IWG) was established
following the publication of the expert working group's
report and recommendations. The IWG was tasked with developing a
national risk assessment. The group is chair by Dr Anita Thomas OBE.
5. Further information on VTE is available at http://www.dh.gov.uk/VTE. The
Report of the independent expert working group on the prevention
of venous thromboembolism in hospitalised patients is available
from the DH Publications Orderline; telephone 0300 123 1002;
email: dh@prolog.uk.com, please quote reference 278830.