Patients ‘should have own VTE risk assessment’

In order to save thousands of lives each year, hospital patients should all be independently assessed for the risk of contracting Venousthromboembolism (VTE), it has been claimed.

The Department of Health announced the publication of a report from the chief medical officer making this recommendation, noting that 25,000 people die in hospitals in England each year as a result of VTE.

VTE refers to a group of complications in patients, including the presence of blood clots in veins that can break off.

Sir Liam Donaldson, chief medical officer, said: “This report enables clinicians to make the best choices for their patients and to ensure that we make real progress in saving thousands of lives every year.”

The report is based on the findings of an expert group charged with investigating cases of VTE in hospitals and assessing the means of reducing the occurrence of the condition to save patient lives.

Provision of individual risk assessment based on a national risk assessment tool could potentially save many patient lives each year through lowering cases of VTE, the expert group found.

Earlier this week, the chief dental officer Dr Barry Cockcroft issued new guidance relating to the single use of reamers and files used in root filling teeth relating to the risk of contracting vCJD.