University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) completed a merger by acquisition of Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust (HEFT) on 1st April 2018. For the purposes of this request we have answered on behalf of the pre-merger UHB i.e. Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
I would be grateful if you could provide me with the following information relating to venous thromboembolism (VTE) assessments within QEHB.
1. What performance measures the trust has in place to monitor these assessments
The Department of Health target for >95% risk assessment completion. In practice, there is a consistent >99% risk assessment rate.
Conversion of high risk assessment requiring LMWH to actual prescription is monitored by census on quality dashboard to assess trends.
2. How the risk assessment is completed within the trust (paper or electronic)
Electronic
3. What staff members are able to complete the risk assessment
Doctors and a select group of ambulatory care nursing staff.
4. Where the risk assessment is not completed how is this managed
The risk assessment is an unavoidable and compulsory component of the electronic admission process so we don’t have this issue currently.
5. A breakdown / tree diagram of the questions or steps taken in the assessment with all outcomes noted
Please see attached: VenousThromboembolism(VTE)ThromboprophylaxisProcedure
6. How the trust reports on performance
Quarterly review of census data by the Trust Medical Director before submission to Department of Health via UNIFY.
7. Please provide a breakdown in performance for the last 24 months
Please see attached: FOI 0284
8. Please provide a copy of any documentation or policies surrounding this risk assessment
Please see attached: PreventionAndTreatmentOfVenousThromboembolism(VTE)Policy
9. Please provide a copy of the electronic learning provided to nursing and medical staff
Please see attached: VenousThromboembolismSlides
All junior doctors complete mandatory SCRIPT training on VTE (we are unable to provide a copy as this is provided through a bespoke online tool)
We also have a Hospital intranet video available: https://www.uhb.nhs.uk/hospital-acquired-dvt.htm
