ALL-PARTY PARLIAMENTARY
THROMBOSIS GROUP
‘VENOUS
THROMBOEMBOLISM IN THE NHS’ - A LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
Convened
by the Chief Medical Officer and the All-Party Parliamentary Thrombosis Group
Thursday 25 June
2009, 09.00 to 1.00
The Royal Society
(Wellcome Trust Lecture Hall)
6-9 Carlton House
Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG
The Department of Health published the first version of the Venous
Thromboembolism (VTE) risk assessment template for use in hospitals in September
2008. This risk assessment has been described as “a world first” and follows
the development of Department of Health policy that all adult patients should
receive a risk assessment for VTE on admission to hospital. This has the
potential to prevent many thousands of avoidable deaths from VTE each year.
The Department of Health expects this venous thromboembolism (VTE)
risk assessment policy to be adopted throughout the NHS. As you may know, Dr Anita Thomas OBE, is
leading the Government’s national VTE prevention strategy and has been asked to
visit throughout the NHS to discuss with senior managers and doctors their
strategies for implementing VTE risk assessment in their hospitals. The Government will be monitoring the
position closely and formally reviewing the policy in a year’s time and have
announced that if there is inconsistency in, or lack of commitment to
implementation, they will consider making it mandatory to perform VTE risk
assessments.
VTE is one of the commonest causes of avoidable death in our
hospitals today. The All-Party
Parliamentary Thrombosis Group has been vigorously campaigning for VTE
prevention to be given the priority in the NHS it deserves. We are therefore
delighted to
invite you to attend ‘Venous Thromboembolism in the NHS’, a leadership summit,
jointly hosted by the DH and the All-Party Parliamentary Thrombosis Group.
The
aim of this summit is to provide NHS leaders with a high level overview of the
need to improve the prevention and management of VTE in their organisations by:
- Raising awareness of the Department of
Health VTE risk assessment policy;
- Highlighting the business and clinical
case for effectively preventing VTE;
- Showcasing a variety of regional VTE best
practice prevention initiatives;
- Identifying barriers to implementing a
coherent VTE risk assessment strategy;
- Encouraging the development of regional
and local VTE prevention initiatives.
Speakers will include senior figures from
the Department of Health, Government and NHS leaders who are at the forefront
of exemplar practice in this area.
Please see the enclosed agenda for further
details of the format of the day. We do hope you will be able to confirm your
attendance for what promises to be an educational and thought provoking
discussion. We would be grateful if you could RSVP to the All-Party
Parliamentary Thrombosis Group Secretariat (jen@insightpa.com
020 7824 1869) who will be responsible for arranging this event in partnership
with the national VTE prevention team.
Yours sincerely,
SIR LIAM DONALDSON
CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER
JOHN SMITH MP
CHAIRMAN
ALL-PARTY PARLIAMENTARY
THROMBOSIS GROUP