A leading UK charity is raising the alarm over a quiet but deadly issue: more people are dying from blood clots, and experts say the NHS needs to act fast by bringing back data tracking that stopped during the pandemic.
Why This Matters
Blood clots—also known as venous thromboembolism (VTE)—can be deadly if not caught in time. They include conditions like deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE). These clots can form in the legs and travel to the lungs, often with no warning signs. But the good news is, they’re usually preventable if hospitals assess patients properly and catch them early.
Data Gaps Since COVID
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, hospitals in England regularly published data showing how many patients had been checked for the risk of developing blood clots. But when the pandemic hit in March 2020, the NHS paused that data collection to focus on handling COVID cases.
Now, more than three years later, that data still isn’t being collected or made public—and experts say that’s a big problem.
Deaths Are Rising
According to NHS data, the number of people over 19 who died from VTE rose sharply—from 12,457 in 2019/20 to 14,846 in 2021/22. That’s nearly a 20% increase in just two years.
Jo Jerrome, CEO of Thrombosis UK, is calling it a “hidden crisis.”
“Families are being broken, and thousands of lives are being lost,” she said. “We need better support for NHS staff to catch these cases and save lives.”
One Family’s Story
Tim Edwards, 42, lost his mother, Jennifer Edwards, in a heartbreaking case. She was hospitalized with clear signs of a pulmonary embolism but was sent home. Three days later, she passed away after calling the NHS with shortness of breath.
Tim believes her death could have been avoided.
“From the moment she was admitted to the hospital, her symptoms were missed,” he said. “She should not have died.”
He was thankful she got to meet his baby daughter Anais just weeks before her passing.
Experts Call for Urgent Change
Professor Beverley Hunt, a thrombosis specialist at Guy’s Hospital in London, says better training and awareness are urgently needed.
“Missing a blood clot diagnosis can be fatal. It’s time for the NHS to step up and make sure staff and patients understand the risks,” she said.
She’s calling for better education for healthcare professionals and more public awareness campaigns so people know what symptoms to look for.
What Is the NHS Doing About It?
An NHS spokesperson said hospitals currently use a test called D-Dimer, along with other diagnostic tools, to detect blood clots. They also pointed to a £100 million investment in diagnostic tools over the next few years, including the opening of up to 160 Community Diagnostic Centres to help catch conditions like VTE earlier.
However, they didn’t confirm if or when the data collection on blood clot assessments would resume.
Why It Matters to You
Blood clots can happen to anyone. They often strike after surgery, during long periods of immobility (like long flights or hospital stays), or due to underlying health issues. But if caught early, they’re treatable—and often preventable.
With deaths rising and data missing, experts say now’s the time for action. More transparency, better training, and public awareness could save thousands of lives.
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