If you get a blood clot in hospital
A blood clot happens when your blood thickens and clumps together. This can be dangerous if it blocks blood flow in your body, especially in your lungs (called a pulmonary embolism) or legs (called deep vein thrombosis or DVT).
When you’re in hospital, your risk of developing a blood clot is higher than usual
This is because you might be less mobile, having surgery, recovering from an illness, or affected by things like pregnancy or certain medicines.
Reducing the risk of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) patient information leaflet[doc] 1MB
We are here to keep you safe
To reduce your risk, your hospital team will carry out a simple risk assessment. This helps us decide if you need extra support to prevent a clot.
We’ll check:
Depending on your level of risk, we might recommend:
Simple steps to help prevent blood clots
Supporting your recovery with the right treatment
Blood clots in the veins are usually treated with medicine called anticoagulants. Some people need tablets, others need injections.
If you have a DVT or PE, you will be referred to a haematology clinic for follow up. We will go through:
If you have any questions about your medication
