Dr. Ahmad, Queen's VTE Prevention Project Team

Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

A multi-disciplinary team at Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, led by haematologist, Dr Hume Ahmad, is determined to reduce the risk of patients developing potentially fatal blood clots.

The danger of developing a blood clot (venous thromboembolism or VTE) after an operation has been highlighted as a patient safety issue by the Chief Medical Officer, House of Commons and NICE. Yet more than 25,000 people a year die from the condition.

The VTE prevention project team has set up an electronic system that ensures all patients entering hospitals in Burton are assessed for their risk of VTE and the results are recorded in their patient data. The trust uses the Meditech patient record system, which already flags up other potential risks, contraindications and allergies. A key challenge was adapting this existing system to provide an alert for any patient at risk of VTE and to implement it in a way clinicians would find helpful rather than unwieldy.

In October 2008, the team responsible for monitoring VTE presented a paper to the trust's risk committee. Following a trial of the new system in the emergency admissions unit, it was later rolled out across the whole hospital. It is currently undergoing further testing.

The team that created the new system, including IT and pharmacy staff, believes that this is one of the few patient safety management systems of its kind in the UK. Initial data shows a 30% increase in the prescribing of drugs to avoid VTE occurring, particularly for older patients who are undergoing surgery.

Consultants are now working with nursing staff to ensure the system is fully understood by everyone. Patients have also been involved in the project so that they too understand the importance of the initiative and why these new protocols are needed to ensure their safety.