Thousands of lives lost to blood clots

In England around 25,000 people die every year from venous thromboemebolisms (VTE) making it reportedly a bigger killer than breast cancer, HIV/Aids and traffic accidents combined.

The shocking statistics were reported in the press following the release of a new report by the Health Select Committee. The report warned that the NHS was systematically and dangerously underestimating the threat of blood-clots.

The report went on to say that thousands of lives could be saved if hospitals assessed every patient for the risk of developing life-threatening blood-clots such as VTE. They recommended that all patients should be considered for special measures to reduce the risk of clots especially those who had been in hospital for longer than four days with reduced mobility and with either severe heart failure, respiratory failure, acute infection, inflammatory illness or cancer.

The Chief Medical Officer commissioned the report. He said that VTE has been a "Cinderella issue" for too long.

He said that this report enables clinicians to make the best choices for their parents and to ensure that we make real progress in saving lives".

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