What plans it has to advise the general public of the dangers of thrombosis, including deep vein thrombosis.

The Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) is reviewing SIGN Guideline 62 on Prophylaxis of Venous Thromboembolism and is using this opportunity to incorporate recommendations on diagnosis and management of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism into a single document. Consultation on the draft Guideline is expected to take place during 2009. SIGN will, as is its general practice, produce a version of the final Guideline suited to the needs of the general public.
As an interim measure until the publication of the revised SIGN guideline, the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) and the Chairman of NHS Quality Improvement Scotland (QIS) wrote to NHS Boards, asking them to adopt for local use a standard patient information leaflet on the prevention and management of DVT. NHS QIS will produce a further report on progress on this issue, which will be sent to the CMO in December.
We are also considering how best to follow up with GPs the availability of the Lifeblood patient information leaflet on thrombosis awareness which was issued in the spring of this year for display in GP practices.
The majority of deaths from thrombosis are caused by clots in the coronary arteries, which result in heart attacks, and clots in the brain, which cause certain types of stroke. CHD and stroke continue to be clinical priorities for NHSScotland, and we are in the process of revising our national CHD and stroke strategy, which will have a strong emphasis on prevention.