The NHS University Hospitals of the North Midlands, home to one of the UK’s leading stroke units, has announced the acute stroke team at the Royal Stoke Hospital has been recognised nationally for their exceptional work in thrombosis prevention. The team has been named winner in the category: Excellent Quality Improvement Programme that Advanced Practice in Thrombosis Prevention or Management.
The Thrombosis UK VTE Award ceremony, held in the iconic setting of the House of Commons, celebrates outstanding practice in the prevention and effective management of venous thromboembolism (VTE) - a leading cause of preventable hospital deaths and long-term complications.
The prestigious award recognises the team's exceptional work in embedding an improvement culture that prioritised the adoption of innovations that offer either superior alternatives to existing treatments or cater to patients for whom current options are inadequate.
Neuromuscular Electrostimulation (NMES) for VTE Prevention
The team evaluated a neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) device, for preventing blood clots in stroke patients unable to tolerate standard compression therapy. Spearheaded by Dr Indira Natarajan, Clinical Director Neurosciences University Hospital of North Midlands & Clinical Director Stroke, West Midlands Integrated Stroke Delivery Network, the real-world QI programme followed over 1,000 patients and found that NMES, used when Intermittent Pneumatic Compression (IPC) was not suitable, was well tolerated with no adverse events and zero VTE incidents, compared to a 2.4% VTE rate in the IPC arm. The NMES device is now in routine use in the unit, and the findings are influencing national stroke care, with over 20 NHS units adopting the NMES device for unmet need to date. The findings have also influenced a multi-centre randomised controlled trial (RCT) currently underway.
AI-Enhanced Stroke Diagnosis
The team also successfully integrated artificial intelligence (AI) decision-support tools to enhance stroke care. By significantly reducing the time required to process and interpret brain scans, AI enables them to make faster treatment decisions, thereby improving access to life-saving interventions such as thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy. Both cases underscore the critical role of leadership in embracing innovation to implement change within clinical practice.
Dr Natarajan, who attended the ceremony to receive the award on behalf of the team, said: "We are incredibly proud to be recognised with this prestigious national award. Thrombosis prevention is a critical part of stroke care, and our multidisciplinary team has worked tirelessly to ensure best practices are embedded at every level of patient management. This recognition celebrates the team’s willingness to embrace and challenge the status quo for better patient outcomes."
Thrombosis UK applauded the team’s initiative for its measurable impact and its potential to be replicated across other NHS services aiming to reduce thrombosis-related harm.
