GIRFT Thrombosis Survey
The GIRFT Thrombosis Survey was launched on 1st October 2019 and data entry was extended to August 31st 2020 to help capture data around the link between increased venous thromboembolism associated with COVID-19.
The survey was set up to audit hospital-associated venous thromboembolism and determine how current thromboprophylaxis practice could be improved.
The survey was undertaken in collaboration with Thrombosis UK and supported by the Royal College of Surgeons and the Royal College of Physicians, and the National VTE (venous thromboembolism) Exemplar Centres Network. It uses GIRFT’s established methodology to gather and analyse data on the rates of hospital-associated VTE.
The purpose of the survey was to:
- Identify the number of cases of HAT (Hospital Acquired Thrombosis) in a six-month period (now extended by two months).
- Identify the clinical areas where HAT occurs, identifying whether HAT has occurred after medical or surgical admission and the type of surgical admission.
- Determine the proportion of HAT cases which are deemed potentially preventable.
- Identify common themes within cases of potentially preventable HAT.
- Assess local practice in the prevention of HAT.
- Provide data for participating trusts or hospitals, to benchmark themselves against the national average and to drive better scrutiny and investigation of HAT and their causes.
The survey questions were developed by professor of thrombosis Professor Roopen Arya and consultant haematologist Dr Lara Roberts – both of King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London – in consultation with Thrombosis UK, and have been reviewed by a panel of experts from professional bodies.
This survey offers a unique opportunity to capture data on the increase in COVID-related thrombosis nationally. It is thought that 30% of patients who fall severely ill with COVID-19 develop thrombosis, which may contribute to death rates.
Thrombosis UK has produced a report on the high-level findings from the survey. Visit their website at: https://thrombosisuk.org/girft.php
For further information on the survey, contact GIRFT project manager Anne-Marie Ridgeon. Email: a.ridgeon@nhs.net
Click above to view the report