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Charity Comments on Patients Suffering Unnecessary Inconvenience

More than a million people in the UK are dependent on medication to manage their risk of blood clots which can be fatal, and the number is rising rapidly
Health - 6 September 2010   Download IconContent available for download:  
Audio | Interview with Eve Knight| Login to Download

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  News Hooks:

Over 1.25 million people in the UK are dependent on anticoagulant medication (such as warfarin) to manage conditions where they’re at risk from blood clots and the number of people who are on long-term medication is expected to increase by 10% year-on-year; due to the ageing population. Conditions include Atrial Fibrillation, Deep Vein Thrombosis and artificial heart valves.

Additionally, an increase in the scope of the use of warfarin, has increased pressure on anticoagulation clinics at a time when healthcare budgets are already stretched.

The traditional approach to managing warfarin requires patients to attend outpatient clinics in order to monitor patients’ on a regular basis, as the dosage is critical to avoid excessive bleeding. 50% of patients are able to and would benefit from Patient Self-Testing (PST) but many patients are unaware of the potential benefits of being able to self-monitor at home.

. Introduction:

Recent government initiatives have aimed to promote the movement of healthcare towards self-care where appropriate. Over 1.25 million people in the UK are currently taking the medication warfarin, to manage conditions such as atrial fibrillation, artificial heart valves and deep vein thrombosis. These conditions put them at risk of potentially fatal complications, namely blood clots. The number of people taking this medication is expected to increase by 10% every year and the dosage is critical in maintaining good health, so regular visits to see physicians are the traditional way of keeping levels under control. However, these appointments can be inconvenient for patients who are often able to and would benefit from Patient Self-Test (PST) but are unaware that they can opt for this type of care.

Why isn’t there better awareness surrounding the options available to long-term patients taking anticoagulation therapy?

Joining us in the studio to discuss this further is Eve Knight, Chief Executive of the Charity Anticoagulation Europe, (ACE).

. Suggested Questions:

How many people in our area are currently taking warfarin and is this likely to increase?

What is warfarin and why are regular visits to out-patient anticoagulation clinics seen as necessary?

How much pressure does this put on healthcare resources?

Which patients would qualify for Patient Self-Testing (PST)?

What equipment do patients need in order to self-test and what are the benefits for patients?

What resources are available in our area to help interested patients and healthcare professionals learn more about PST?

Where can we find out more information?