Venous Thromboembolism

Introduction

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a leading cause of preventable death and long-term disability in healthcare settings. Approximately half of all cases link to hospitalisation for medical illness or surgery. In fact, one in twenty people will experience VTE during their lifetime, and risk rises significantly with age. However, despite its preventable nature, VTE remains a major patient safety concern worldwide.

Preventing hospital-associated thrombosis requires coordinated action across the care pathway. This begins with risk awareness in primary care. It continues with systematic risk assessment and thromboprophylaxis in hospital. Furthermore, care teams must monitor patients carefully after discharge. Healthcare professionals across all settings play a crucial role in prevention. This includes GPs, community pharmacists, hospital nurses, and junior doctors. Therefore, consistent prevention strategies are essential to reduce VTE incidence.

To support this effort, the Venous Thromboembolism programme delivers role-specific training across four structured sessions. Specifically, it equips healthcare professionals, commissioners, and students with the knowledge and skills to assess VTE risk, implement prevention measures, and improve outcomes across primary and secondary care.

Developed by: This course was developed by the NHS England National VTE Prevention Programme, in partnership with NHS England eLearning for Healthcare.

Who is This Venous Thromboembolism Course for?

• General practitioners and primary care nurses who want to enhance VTE prevention strategies before hospital admission and after patient discharge.
• Secondary care nurses, junior doctors, and pharmacists who are looking to strengthen their skills in VTE risk assessment and thromboprophylaxis selection.
• Community pharmacists, health visitors, and midwives who seek to improve their awareness of VTE risks and prevention in community settings.
• Healthcare commissioners who want to understand their role in ensuring high-quality VTE prevention across acute care services.
• Medical, nursing, and pharmacy undergraduates who are looking to build foundational knowledge of VTE pathophysiology, risk factors, and national prevention programmes.
• Clinical audit and quality improvement staff who want to understand root cause analysis of VTE cases in hospitalized patients.

Features

• Four targeted sessions designed for different professional groups: primary care workers, secondary care workers, commissioners, and undergraduates.
• Covers VTE risk assessment, prevention methods, and the importance of thromboprophylaxis in hospitalized patients.
• Includes guidance on conducting root cause analysis and audit of VTE prevention practices.
• Addresses VTE management across the entire care pathway, from community prevention to hospital-based interventions.
• Developed by the NHS England National VTE Prevention Programme, ensuring alignment with national patient safety standards.

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