First reported 13 Feb 2013•Latest report 4 Jun 2024
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures of assessment, prescribing, arrangement, communication, implementation, delivery or monitoring that are specifically dedicated to preventing venous thromboembolism, including the anchor's failure to obtain and clarify discharge thromboprophylaxis requirements.
Not included
Excludes generic failures to obtain, transfer or document information unless they are specifically tied to a thromboprophylaxis decision or requirement.
Excludes unrelated medication, discharge-planning or clinical-assessment failures that do not concern venous thromboembolism prevention.
Excludes thrombosis outcomes or general immobility risks without an identified thromboprophylaxis control failure.
Reports
27
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
35
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2013–2024
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
50
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
Department of Health and Social Care6
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence4
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust2
East London NHS Foundation Trust2
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust2
NHS England2
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust2
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust2
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust2
Barts Health NHS Trust1
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust1
Brunswick Ward at Lindridge1
Doncaster Royal Infirmary1
East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust1
Frome Care Village1
NHS trust17
Executive non-departmental public body6
Healthcare site6
Ministerial department6
Residential care home1
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Worcestershire
Concerns raised1
Lack of a system to ensure that mechanical thromboprophylaxis instructions are carried out
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.3
Action
Deliver weekly teaching on mechanical prophylaxis and reinforce signing prescription charts to confirm prophylaxis is in place.
Stated by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 7 June 2024.
Action
Include prescription-chart checks in matron audits to verify prophylaxis prescriptions are signed as in place.
Stated by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 7 June 2024.
Action
Implement mechanical prophylaxis documentation on the electronic patient prescribing and administration system.
Stated by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 7 June 2024.
Manchester South
Concerns raised2
Lack of clarity on VTE prophylaxis for patients who are both bariatric and neurosurgical
Failure to follow and understand the VTE policy for discharge risk reduction
This report raised 7 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the appropriate organisation to respond to concerns one to seven.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
Position
Concerns about differing prophylaxis approaches should be referred to NICE, which produces the relevant clinical guidelines.
Stated by NHS EnglandRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
West Sussex, Brighton and Hove
Concerns raised1
Lack of venous thromboembolism risk assessment for hospital patients who are not admitted
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Develop a Trust thromboprophylaxis policy for ambulatory trauma patients discharged from the Emergency Department.
Stated by University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 1 December 2023.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised1
NICE guidance not reflecting the use of LMWH with non-TED-stocking VTE prevention products
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1
Action
Share the coroner’s report with the guideline surveillance team for consideration during future guideline review.
Stated by National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 28 November 2023.
Somerset
Concerns raised2
Absence of an active DVT policy
Failure to obtain and clarify discharging-hospital information about care needs and thromboprophylaxis
This report raised 5 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Worcestershire
Concerns raised1
Lack of clarity about VTE risk-assessment responsibilities at hospital-to-community discharge
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Review the guideline for updates covering continuation of VTE prophylaxis and anticoagulation after discharge to community settings.
Stated by National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 6 November 2023.
Action
Consider providing implementation support on VTE risk assessments and discharge planning, focusing on anticoagulation.
Stated by National Institute for Health and Care ExcellenceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 6 November 2023.
East London
Concerns raised1
Failure to withhold low molecular weight heparin VTE prophylaxis in the presence of active bleeding
This report raised 2 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Cornwall and Isles of Scilly
Concerns raised3
Failure to provide risk-appropriate thrombosis prophylaxis after elective knee replacement
Failure to ensure clinicians access accurate thrombosis prophylaxis guidance
Routine prescription of aspirin to high-risk patients regardless of prophylaxis guidance
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Conduct mandatory annual audits of DVT prophylaxis prescribing for elective hip and knee replacement surgery.
Stated by Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 May 2023.
Action
Scrutinise and ratify the Thrombosis Prevention and Anticoagulation Policy in its current form through the steering group.
Stated by Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 May 2023.
Action
Review the Thrombosis and Anticoagulation policy arrangements through a larger workstream to improve accessibility and remove ambiguity.
Stated by Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 19 May 2023.
Action
Audit the ten most recently uploaded document-library policies within three months to verify that the correct approval process was followed.
Stated by Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 19 May 2023.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
Existing NICE-based Trust protocols, risk assessment, and mandatory audits are considered sufficient to ensure correct elective knee replacement DVT prophylaxis.
Stated by Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS TrustExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
TPAS considered the policy’s acknowledged ambiguity insufficiently risky to warrant removal and ratified the current policy pending broader review.
Stated by Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS TrustExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
East London
Concerns raised1
Failure to assess inpatient patients for venous thromboembolism risk
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.8
Action
Review the Trust’s VTE policy.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 25 January 2023.
Action
Disseminate a VTE screening and assessment clinical alert across the Trust.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 January 2023.
Action
Add VTE assessment information to new-doctor induction and the junior doctors’ handbook.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 January 2023.
Action
Add antipsychotic medication as a consideration in the VTE assessment tool.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 January 2023.
Action
Include VTE risk in the monthly physical health training programme.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 January 2023.
Action
Trial Power BI and use it to monitor compliance with VTE risk assessments.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 25 January 2023.
Action
Employ an Advanced Clinical Practitioner as Consultant Nurse in Physical Health to review in-patient physical health and address concerns in daily safety huddles.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 January 2023.
Action
Add RiO pop-up reminders prompting VTE risk assessment when patients’ presentations change.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation TrustStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 January 2023.
East London
Concerns raised1
Failure to assess inpatients for venous thromboembolism risk
This report raised 6 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Undertake VTE assessments for all Cazaubon Ward admissions and audit completion weekly.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 October 2022.
Action
Request an automated reporting-system update to enable ward-level VTE screening reports.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 5 October 2022.
Action
Amend physical-health policy to require admission VTE screening and correct RiO recording.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 5 October 2022.
Action
Amend nurses’ physical-health assessment to include VTE screening and complete screens through weekly audit processes.
Stated by East London NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 5 October 2022.