Whether it will issue guidance to GPs, nurses, consultants and other health professionals on the symptoms of air-related deep vein thrombos…

It is not possible todistinguish the symptoms of deep vein thrombosis which may have been triggeredby air travel from those of deep vein thrombosis in people who have not flownrecently or at all, so it would not be possible to issue such specificguidance. Though the Executive does not issue clinical advice to medicalprofessionals directly, the Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN),which is funded by the Executive, has issued advice on what may be done toprevent or reduce the risk of venous thromboembolism, including deep veinthrombosis, developing in the first place. The good practice clinical guidelineProphylaxis of Venous Thromboembolism was published in October 2002 andincludes a section on long distance travel. SIGN guidelines are made availableto the NHS at all levels, and are kept under regular review to take account ofnew published research.