PB1499 - Reducing Hospital Acquired Thrombosis in Wales - A National Approach

Background: In 2012 approximately 900 people in Wales were reported as dying from venous thromboembolism (VTE) related causes.
many death may have been avoidable
Many survivors of DVT suffer long-term physical and psychological effects.
Most cases of VTE occur during or following a hospital admission.
In 2012, Welsh Government issued 5 recommendations to NHS Wales to encourage improvement:
-reporting of HAT- Tier 1 priority
-Mandate risk assessment and thromboprophylaxis
- standardised HAT rate
- root cause analysis (RCA) of all potential HATs
-Increase clinician and public awareness

Aims: Project aim is to produce robust national VTE prevention programme for people of Wales. Programme will implement measures set out by Welsh Government in 2012 and a number of new innovations in 2023

Methods: The All Wales Hospital Acquired Thrombosis (HAT) steering agreed the definition for HAT and a methodology for collecting potential HAT incidents from all of the seven health boards and 1 cancer centre in Wales. A method of collecting the monthly uptake of VTE prophylaxis in each of the Health boards has also been developed and a new set of reporting standards including the uptake of a national VTE prevention education module due for release on January 31 2023

Results: Uptake of HAT RCA
Uptake of TP RA

Conclusion(s): Welsh Government and NHS Wales clinicians working collaboratively in all Welsh health boards HB) improve patient safety has been seen as good practice.
We demonstrated standardised practice with the implementation of the amended all Wales medication chart in 2016 which has led to an increase in the number of assessments undertaken in all Welsh hospitals. . In 2020 an All Wales thromboprophylaxis policy was introduced for use in all Welsh hospitals and in 2023 a VTE education module is being introduced in line with the All Wales Policy for all patient facing staff.