Ellen Mercer

“Patients are unfortunately waiting increasingly longer times in emergency departments - not just in waiting areas, but also after being seen by clinical staff and waiting for admission to a ward or discharge from the hospital. During this time, current policies do not require VTE risk assessment”

“The policy for this trust suggests that the 24 hour period (during which VTE risk assessment must take place) starts only when a patient is”

“If current policies require VTE risk assessment to take place within 24 hours, the point at which that 24 hour period starts is not sufficiently clear and does not take long waits in emergency departments into account”

“I suspect that this issue may be a national one”