A nurse-led outpatient service for patients with DVT

The traditional management of patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis required hospital admission for diagnostic investigation and anti-coagulation therapy. Since November 2001 all patients with suspected DVT at Tameside and Glossop Acute Services NHS Trust have been managed as outpatients via the vascular studies unit according to agreed protocols. Audit results have shown that the service has resulted in a reduction in bed occupancy for patients with a sole diagnosis of DVT, and a reduction in the cost of managing and treating patients with a suspected DVT.