Thousands of lives could be saved with the help of a new guideline on preventing blood clots in hospital patients, published by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE).
The NICE guideline, jointly developed with the National Clinical Guideline Centre for Acute and Chronic Conditions, recommends that all patients should be assessed for risk of developing blood clots on admission to hospital, and then given preventative treatment that suits their individual needs. Options include blood-thinning drugs such as heparin, anti-embolism stockings and foot impulse or pneumatic devices. Importantly, this advice covers all patients admitted to hospital – including those having day-case procedures – and not just those patients having surgery. Professor Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer, said: “The Department of Health is prioritising the prevention of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) across the NHS. I welcome this clear advice from NICE and would expect hospitals to implement it. It aims to save lives and reduce risks for patients.”
