Thrombosis

John Smith
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what discussions she has had with the Healthcare Commission on including thrombosis as a measurable indicator in annual hospital checks; and if she will make a statement.

Andy Burnham
The Government response to the House of Commons Health Committee Report on the prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in hospitalised patients was presented to Parliament by the Secretary of State for Health in July 2005. The  response included a commitment to set up an independent expert working group which would make its recommendations by summer 2006, and that once the expert group had assessed the current guidance on VTE, the Department would ask that the Healthcare Commission look to seek conformity with this good practice.

The Department expects the report of the independent expert working group to be presented to the Chief Medical Officer shortly.