Lifeblood

Lifeblood: The Thrombosis Charity has been outspoken about the need for an effective prevention strategy for thrombosis in UK hospitals. In 2004, the Health Select Committee enquiry invited the Medical Director of Lifeblood, Dr Beverley Hunt, to present evidence on the size of the problem of venous embolism, and to make suggestions about how thrombosis could be prevented more effectively.

When the All Party Parliamentary Health Select Committee Report was published in 2005 (click here to download ), which made firm recommendations on preventative measures for the development of venous thrombosis in patients following surgery and during or just after hospital stays, Lifeblood praised the approach recommended (more ).

Since then, progress has been slow. Although the government responded by forming an Expert Working Group on venous thromboembolism prevention (more ) and broad guidelines were published by the Department of Health in 2007 (click here to download ), there remains no recommended approach to identify patients at risk of thrombosis and, for those at risk, thromboprophylaxis is not mandatory.

In 2009, Lifeblood wishes to see the introduction of mandatory thromboprophylaxis for patients at risk of thrombosis in UK hospitals.