'Patients not being screened for risk of fatal blood clots'

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Dr Beverley Hunt said clots caused 20 times more patient deaths than superbugs but staff were not carrying out adequate screening of those at risk.

Dr Hunt, director of haematology at Guy's and St Thomas', said: "People are dying because hospitals are not following basic guidelines. This is totally unacceptable."

She spoke out as approval was given for a pill that could help prevent thousands of deaths. Pradaxa is the first new bloodthinning treatment in more than 50 years and experts say it could revolutionise the way doctors prevent and treat clots.

It works by reversing the effects of a protein that allows clots to form after surgery.

More than 130,000 patients a year undergoing hip and knee surgery will be eligible for the drug on the NHS.

Blood clots cause 25,000 deaths every year - one in every 10 hospital deaths. But a report by MPs last year revealed that less than a third of hospitals were assessing patients for their clot risk.

The chief medical officer Sir Liam Donaldson has admitted there is no systematic approach to treating patients at risk.

Dr Hunt, a thrombosis expert, welcomed the approval of Pradaxa. She added: "The prevention of blood clots with blood thinners after surgery is not done well in the UK."