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Press releases
Lifeblood welcomes the Government response
to Commons' VTE Report
Release date: 1 August 2005
Lifeblood: The Thrombosis Charity has cautiously welcomed the publication of the Government's response to the House of Commons Health Select Committee inquiry into VTE in hospitalised patients. The Government fully accepted the recommendations of the House of Commons Health Select Committee in highlighting VTE as a major killer in our nation's hospitals.
Lifeblood's medical director, Dr Beverley Hunt, said: "The publication of the Government's response is a major step forwards in preventing VTE in hospitalised patients across the UK. The Department of Health has now accepted that an estimated 25,000 people die needlessly from blood clots whilst in hospital, and has pledged to tackle this national scandal. The announcement that an Expert Panel will be established to look into the detail of how to implement the recommendations is to be welcomed. Lifeblood will be participating fully in this process and will continue to push for the immediate and full implementation of the Health Select Committee's recommendations.
"It is encouraging that on the same day as this report is published the Chief Medical Officer has also written to all medical schools updating the training curriculum for all new doctors to include a greater focus on preventing VTE. When these doctors now treat patients they will have a much greater awareness of how to recognise and treat the symptoms of VTE. But perhaps more importantly, they will know how to prevent them in the first place."
"Although the Government has accepted the recommendations of the Health Select Committee in full, this in itself will not save any lives until these recommendations are put into practise. Lifeblood's campaign for the full implementation of these recommendations will now begin in earnest."
The response was published by the Department of Health on the last day of the Parliamentary term just prior to the House of Commons rising for the summer recess.
ENDS
Download
a copy of the Health Select Committee report (pdf format)
Download
a copy of the Government's response to the Health Select Committee
(pdf format)
Download Lifeblood abstract
on "The prevention of venous thromboembolism in hospitalised patients"
(Word document)
Explanatory terms:
Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) – development of a blood clot (thrombus)
in the leg.
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) – a term that encompasses deep vein
thrombosis and pulmonary embolism.
Media contact
Further information from Jacqui Marr on 01406
381017 or email information@thrombosis-charity.org.uk
Copyright
© Lifeblood: The Thrombosis Charity 2003-2006. A
company limited by guarantee. Registered Company No: 4354472.
Registered Charity No: 1090540
