Our History

Lifeblood, the Thrombosis Charity was founded in 2002 by Professor Beverley Hunt, Consultant Haematologist at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and Professor Alan Moody, Professor of Radiology at Nottingham University to address two important issues: improving medical and general knowledge of thrombosis, and raising funds for research into thrombosis.[3]

In 2003, the charity started campaigning to raise awareness. They founded the yearly National Thrombosis Week and provided evidence on several health select committees.[4] They also won the title of 'Health Charity of the Year' in 2010.[5]

In the same year, Lifeblood published the results of a conducted survey which showed that there is a big education gap concerning hospital acquired blood clots.[6]

In 2010, on behalf of Lifeblood, Professor Hunt was included as a member of the guideline development group for the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines in which mandatory thrombosis risk assessment of all patients on admission was set as a must for all National Health Service (NHS) hospitals.[7]

2010 Life Blood published the Venous Thromboembolism Challenge in Scotland, A report into VTE prevention in Scottish Health Boards. Presented at a meeting in the Scottish Parliament hosted by Trish Godman MPS, in March 2010.

In 2011, Lifeblood continued political campaigning with the All Parliamentary Thrombosis Group and health professionals which led to the CQUIN VTE targets which mandate VTE risk assessment.[8][9]

2016, an updated report on the VTE Prevention in Scottish Health Boards was sent to NHS Scotland with data sourced from Freedom of Information requests.

2019 Professor Beverley Hunt, Founder and Medical Lead of Thrombosis UK, was awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for her services to medicine.

In October 2021 Thrombosis UK was been awarded the global 'Activity of the Year' award from World Thrombosis Day (WTD) and the International Society on Haemostasis and Thrombosis (ISTH).

The award reflected the work we undertook between August to October 2020 as part of our WTD programme and included the Let’s Talk Clots virtual conference and patient support and information virtual meetings. Incredibly, the campaign received over 20,000,000 impressions as well as welcomed thousands to online awareness, education and support meetings tailored for our many audiences.

Medical Lead, Prof Simon Noble commented:

"This is a massive privilege for our work to be recognised in this way. It is a testament to the dedication of patients, carers and healthcare professionals working collaboratively to ensure the patient voice is heard."

We would like to thank everyone who has helped us achieve this incredible reach - those who share their experience to conference speakers, fundraisers and sponsors, every voice counts and underlines our message that together we can make a difference and are having a global impact. #KnowThrombosis #ThinkThrombosis.

Further information available from the World Thrombosis Day website.

In 2023 Thrombosis UK was voted the ‘UK Health Advocacy small Charity of the Year’ in the AI Global Media Awards.

The award reflects work the charity is involved with across VTE prevention, best management and awareness.

Medical Director, Prof Simon Noble commented:

"Thrombosis UK advocates for all those affected by or at risk of blood clots. Winning this award is an amazing achievement and we are delighted to be recognised in this way.

We would like to thank everyone who has helped us achieve this, prevention of thrombosis is a patient safety priority and advocating for those impacted by this condition is vital to save lives and suffering.”

#KnowThrombosis #ThinkThrombosis

Stop the Clots

The 'Stop the Clots' campaign aims to ensure that every adult patient admitted to hospital across the UK receives a venous thromboembolism risk assessment and appropriate prophylaxis in line with national clinical guidelines (SIGN Clinical Guideline in Scotland, and NICE Clinical Guideline 92 in England, Wales and Northern Ireland).[10] The House of Commons welcomed the parliamentary launch of Lifeblood: The Thrombosis Charity and commended its campaign to Stop the Clots in 2003.[11]

Spot the Clots

The 'Spot the Clots' campaign is aimed at the community, hoping to improve education of health professionals and raise awareness of the general public about blood clots.[12][13]

National Thrombosis Week

National Thrombosis Week is an annual awareness-raising campaign run by Lifeblood every spring. Campaigns were lauded by Parliament in 2006 and 2008.[4][14]

Lifeblood provided both written and oral evidence on several Health Committees:

  • In December 2004 Lifeblood gave oral evidence before the House of Commons Health Committee about the importance of prevention of venous thromboembolism and the importance of the use of thromboprophylaxis.[15]
  • In February 2005 Lifeblood gave written evidence at the House of Commons Health Select Committee's Second report on venous thromboembolism.[16][17]
  • In March 2007 Lifeblood provided written evidence as a response to the House of Commons Health Select Committee's Inquiry into NICE.[18]
  • In October 2007 Professor Beverley Hunt represented Lifeblood in the House of Commons and gave oral evidence during the Fifth Evidence Session in inquiry into NICE.[19]
  • In October 2008 Lifeblood provided written evidence for the House of Commons Health Select Committee's Inquiry into Patient Safety.[20]
  • In November 2010 Lifeblood gave written evidence for the House of Commons Health Select Committee's Inquiry into the revalidation of doctors.[21]
  • In May 2012 Lifeblood provided a submission to the National Assembly for Wales Health and Social Committee inquiry into venous thromboembolism prevention in Wales.[22]

In 2010, Lifeblood was the winner at the Charity Awards 2010 in the category for Healthcare and Medical Research.

In November 2007 the House of Commons congratulated Lifeblood in an early day motion for its work during the previous five years.[23] Lifeblood was also the winner of the Charity Awards 2010 in the category for Healthcare and Medical Research.[5]

  1. Smith, John P (20 June 2005). "Early day motion 373 – Preventing deaths from thrombosis". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  2. The Committee Office, House of Commons (11 March 2005). "Memorandum by Lifeblood: the Thrombosis Charity (VT 6) – House of Commons – Health – Minutes of Evidence". Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  3. Beverley J. Hunt. "Why Lifeblood: The Thrombosis Charity was founded". Lifeblood, the Thrombosis Charity. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  4. "Early day motion 2091 – NATIONAL THROMBOSIS WEEK 2006". UK Parliament. 3 April 2006. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  5. "Awards". Civil Society. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  6. "Patients in dark over blood clots – Health, News". Belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 13 April 2010. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  7. "All hospital patients 'to be checked for risk of potentially fatal blood clot'". Telegraph. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  8. "Failure to spot blood clots costs the NHS millions". Telegraph. 10 May 2011. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  9. Roberts, Michelle (10 May 2011). "NHS 'failure' to spot blood clots costing millions". BBC News. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  10. "Lifeblood – The Thrombosis Charity". NHS, Isle of Wight. Archived from the original on 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  11. "Early day motion 304 – LIFEBLOOD: THE THROMBOSIS CHARITY". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  12. "Venous thromboembolism". Royal College of Nursing. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  13. "Mission Statement". Lifeblood, the Thrombosis Charity. Archived from the original on 18 June 2008. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  14. "Early day motion 1566 – NATIONAL THROMBOSIS WEEK". UK Parliament. 14 May 2008. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  15. The Committee Office, House of Commons. "House of Commons – Health – Minutes of Evidence". Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  16. The Committee Office, House of Commons. "House of Commons – Health – Second Report". Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  17. The Committee Office, House of Commons. "House of Commons – Health – Second Report". Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  18. The Committee Office, House of Commons (17 May 2007). "House of Commons – Health – Written Evidence". Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  19. "The House of Commons – Health Reports". Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2012-09-03.
  20. The Committee Office, House of Commons (30 October 2008). "House of Commons – Health – Written Evidence". Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  21. The Committee Office, House of Commons. "House of Commons – Health Committee – Written Evidence". Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-06.
  22. "Consultation response VTE – Dr. Simon Noble" Wales Assembly. (PDF).
  23. Smith, John P (27 November 2007). "Early day motion 413 – LIFEBLOOD THROMBOSIS CHARITY – UK Parliament". Parliament.uk. Retrieved 2012-08-06.