Our Trust has been commended for its ‘highly impressive” work in the prevention of the blood clot conditions known as venous thromboembolism (VTE). 

VTE is a collective term for both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. These conditions affect thousands of people in the UK each year and can be potentially fatal. 

After visiting our Trust, meeting staff and witnessing the high quality standards in place for preventing VTE, NHS England has made the Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust a VTE Exemplar Centre. 

Special congratulations should go to Lead nurse for anticoagulation services Karen Beale, VTE nurse Hannah Carroll and consultant Neil Smith for their work in making this happen.

Exemplar Centres are at the centre of the NHS’ s national VTE prevention programme and are considered an important patient safety initiative nationally.

Professor Roopen Arya, lead for the NHS VTE Exemplar Centre Network, wrote to Dame Julie Moore, the Trust’s Interim Chief Executive, to tell her the good news.

The letter said: “The commitment to VTE prevention and the quality of VTE services at your Trust were highly impressive. Please extend our thanks to your team for all your efforts and enthusiasm in supporting the National VTE Prevention Programme.”