Dear Editor, - Each year tens of thousands of people die from thrombosis - blood clots - contracted in hospital. But many of these deaths are preventable.

Last year the House of Commons Health Select Committee published a report entitled The Prevention of Venous Thromboembolism in Hospitalised Patients. The Government's response was to establish an expert panel to make recommendations to the NHS on the management of thrombosis.

Lifeblood: The Thrombosis Charity is helping the Government, and together we will continue to push for the full implementation of the Health Select Committee's recommendations, including the establishment of thrombosis committees in all hospitals, and undertaking a risk assessment for every patient admitted to hospital.

But until all hospitals are set up to assess patients for the risk of thrombosis, we'd like your readers to ask the right questions when being admitted to hospital. Questions such as 'What is my risk of developing a deep vein thrombosis during my stay?'and 'If I develop a DVT how will I be treated?'

The more that is known about thrombosis, the more tens of thousands of lives will be saved each year.

Dr Beverley Hunt John Smith MP Medical Director Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Lifeblood: The Thrombosis Charity Thrombosis Group