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News
Lifeblood
goes to government
April 2004
Over the last six months Lifeblood has held parliamentary events in London, Edinburgh and Cardiff.
Peers, MPs, MSPs and Assembly members from all parties attended these events, where they were joined by decision makers from all over the UK and supporters of Lifeblood: The Thrombosis Charity. Nigel Evans MP (pictured left) and Lord Waddington were among those who supported the Houses of Parliament launch.
Those who came heard a call for thrombosis to be on national healthcare agendas, that more research was required and that people should be educated on how to prevent and treat the condition.
Houses of Parliament
John Smith MP (Labour, Vale of Glamorgan), Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Deep Vein Thrombosis Awareness, hosted the first of our Parliamentary launches at the Houses of Parliament in December 2003.
John
Smith is pictured (centre) at the launch, with Lifeblood founder Dr Beverley
Hunt and (from left) John Russell, Anna Sorman and Damon Cook from Aventis
Pharma, who kindly organised and sponsored the three Parliamentary events.
Over 150 people attended the event and heard Mr Smith speak about this 'silent' medical condition which often has no obvious signs and symptoms: "It is a significant worry that blood clots are a leading killer in the UK, if undiagnosed and untreated," he said.
In her speech Dr Beverley Hunt drew attention to the fact that blood clots cause over 33,000 deaths each year, which is greater than the combined deaths due to breast cancer, HIV/AIDS and road traffic accidents. Dr Hunt also highlighted the need for education and research about thrombosis. "In the UK," she explained, "there has been an explosion of knowledge about venous thrombosis and we have reached a unique point in time where a significant difference can be made – but it does require joined up thinking."
An Early Day Motion (EDM) calling on the government to facilitate further research into the causes of thrombosis and means for prevention was petitioned. Nearly 90 MPs have now signed up to the EDM, showing their commitment to helping to 'Stop the Clots'. Click here to view the EDM and list of MPs who have signed (PDF format).
Scottish Parliament
Professor
Ian Greer of Glasgow University, who hosted the Lifeblood Scottish Parliament
Reception in March 2004, explained that "Many think that clots are
restricted to middle aged and elderly people. But a pulmonary embolism
– a blood clot in the lungs – is the most common cause of mothers
dying in pregnancy and has been for many, many years". Professor
Greer continued by highlighting the risks of thrombosis in pregnancy,
his particular area of research.
Also
present at the 'Stop the Clots' reception in Edinburgh were Tom McCabe
MSP, Deputy Minister for Health and Community Care, Members of the Scottish
Parliament and Scotland's leading clinicians and researchers who have
a special interest in thrombosis. Mr McCabe offered to arrange a meeting
between the Scottish Executive and Lifeblood, to explore issues in current
work and develop new initiatives to help achieve our shared goals.
Welsh Assembly
"Thrombosis
is a serious condition that can affect any one of us. Being more aware that
thrombosis is likely to occur is part of the battle, this allows us to take
steps to prevent the condition in situations where it is likely," said
Ms Jane Hutt AM, minister for Health and Social Services (pictured) and the
Guest of Honour at our Welsh launch in April.
"Raising awareness of the risk of thrombosis is an excellent example of how this can be achieved. Therefore, I welcome the aims and principles of the Lifeblood charity and wish it every success in the future."
Dr
Peter Collins, of University Hospital of Wales (pictured), who was the evening's
host, told guests: "I am proud to say that Wales has a long standing
track record in thrombosis research going back over 30 years. I have always
been surprised that no charity dedicated to thrombosis existed... Well, finally
this has been put right. The establishment of a charity that focuses on venous
thrombosis is an exciting development and I hope Lifeblood will evolve into
a major force within the field and make a real difference."
Copyright
© Lifeblood: The Thrombosis Charity 2003-2006. A
company limited by guarantee. Registered Company No: 4354472.
Registered Charity No: 1090540
