Recipient organisationKing's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Funding£182K
PeriodMar 2026 — Aug 2027
In plain English
AI plain-English summary
Every year, thousands of people admitted to mental health hospitals develop dangerous blood clots—venous thromboembolism (VTE)—yet no one has systematically measured how often this happens or how to prevent it. This matters because a national VTE prevention programme has already cut deaths in acute medical hospitals by mandating risk assessments and preventive treatment on admission. But mental health hospitals were excluded from that programme, leaving clinicians without evidence on which patients are at risk or what to do about it. Prevention practice is therefore highly variable and uncoordinated. If this research succeeds, it will produce the first reliable data on VTE incidence in mental health admissions, alongside a validated risk assessment tool tailored for this setting. The project will also map current prevention pathways and capture patient, carer, and staff perspectives through interviews and a catalyst film. The immediate impact would be a standardised, evidence-based approach to VTE prevention in mental health hospitals—potentially preventing clots, hospital readmissions, and deaths in a population that has been overlooked by existing safety protocols.
View original technical description
Research question How can we measure, predict and address the burden of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients admitted to mental health hospitals? Background VTE is a common complication of hospitalisation with acute medical illness or post-operatively and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A national VTE prevention programme in England with mandatory VTE risk assessment on admission with thromboprophylaxis for those at high risk of VTE has reduced VTE mortality following admission to an acute medical hospital. The risk of VTE in patients admitted to mental health hospitals is not well understood and VTE prevention practice is consequently highly variable. Aim To understand the risk of VTE and to develop a risk assessment tool for hospital-associated VTE (HA-VTE) for individuals admitted to mental health hospitals. To undertake a qualitative exploration of VTE prevention pathways for people admitted to mental health hospitals. Objectives Report the annual incidence of VTE in people with and without a mental health diagnosis Write reproducible analytical code to measure HA-VTE associated with admission to mental health hospitals Report the incidence of HA-VTE per 1000 admissions in patients admitted to mental health hospitals Develop a risk assessment tool for HA-VTE for use in patients admitted to mental health hospitals Understand patients and carer experiences of VTE prevention practice during admission at mental health hospitals. Explore health care professionals views of standardising VTE prevention practice in mental health hospitals, including the acceptability of thromboprophylaxis. Create a catalyst film that captures the important touchpoints for VTE prevention practice for patients admitted to mental health hospitals. Methods We will use the OpenSAFELY platform to analyse linked primary care and hospital episode statistics to determine the incidence of VTE in patients with mental health disorders and the risk associated with admission to a mental health hospital. This data will also enable development and internal validation of a risk assessment tool for use in this setting. Qualitative work will use the first two phases of Experience-Based Co-Design methodology i) to perform observational work of VTE prevention practice across 5 hospitals ii) to interview 15 patients/carers and iii) to interview 15 health care professionals regarding VTE prevention practice in mental health hospitals. Timelines for delivery The first stage of the work (funded by this application) will be achieved in 18 months and inform a second stage (for which additional funding will be sought) to develop, implement and evaluate a bespoke VTE prevention pathway in mental health hospitals over three years. Anticipated impact and dissemination The underlying risk of VTE and associated risk factors in patients admitted to mental health hospitals will be determined, along with an understanding of current VTE prevention practice. The findings will be disseminated at national and international conferences, published in a peer-reviewed journal with a catalyst film made for patients, carers and the public. The findings and film will be publicised using social media with input from Thrombosis UK.
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