The National VTE Prevention Programme in England delivers a framework that ensures the NHS now has an integrated approach with financial incentives to deliver the key patient safety priority of VTE prevention. The key step introduced in June 2010 was the introduction of a national mandatory data collection of VTE risk assessment, which is linked to a national goal in the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) payment scheme for hospitals. Undoubtedly, achieving the CQUIN goal is a major challenge for all involved in patient care. To address this, the King’s Thrombosis Centre, in conjunction with Lifeblood and then NHS London, arranged two CQUIN workshops. This resource book hopes to capture the key challenges and suggested solutions from those workshops, which we hope will together enable those responsible for overseeing or implementing VTE prevention on the wards, to deliver the CQUIN goal.

"To be successful this attack on VTE needs to be owned by everyone involved in the NHS, but driven by those who are experts in the field. This is why I am so pleased to see a guide such as this which represents the joint endeavour of enthusiastic Clinicians and experts in VTE."

Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, NHS Medical Director

Watch a lecture given by Dr Roopen Arya (Director, King’s Thrombosis Centre) on the National VTE Prevention Programme, which provides the overall context of the CQUIN goal.