THE MOTHER of a young woman who died from blood clots after being discharged from University Hospital Limerick in 2019 has welcomed a new programme being rolled out in her daughter’s name.
Melanie Sheehan Cleary who lost her daughter, Eve, after she died of blood clots in her lungs, has welcomed the news that the HSE will be implementing a programme examining how blood clots are diagnosed in Eve’s name as part of the National Venous Thrombembolism Programme (NVTEP).
Ms Cleary is standing for the Mid West Hospital Campaign in the upcoming General Election.
“When we were in the High Court over Eve’s death, part of our settlement with the HSE was supposed to be that Eve’s Protocols would be rolled out nationally,” she told the Limerick Post.
“Part of the protocols are modelled on the NHS and are very effective in identifying people at risk of blood clots, which can be lethal as we experienced. Unfortunately, the HSE reneged on that part of the settlement and we were just given a quarterly review in respect of thrombosis.”
A clot in the vein (usually in the leg or pelvis) is known as a deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and a clot that breaks off and travels to the lungs is known as a pulmonary embolism (PE). Together, DVT and PE make up venous thromboembolism (VTE).
Venous thromboembolism is responsible for almost 500,000 deaths a year in Europe, but the absence of specific data for Ireland means the mortality rate here is not known.
Describing how she followed up with the HSE to push for the implementation of Eve’s Protocols, Ms Cleary said that “I myself had a blood clot that travelled to my lung, but was lucky to be so well looked after in St John’s Hospital and survived”.
“It has taken a lot of campaigning, but I am delighted that Eve’s Protocols are now becoming a reality. I have always said that I am doing this so that no other family suffers as we did.
“I am proud that Eve’s name will live on through the implementation of these protocols, which will save lives.”
In order to explain what is involved with the protocols, Ms Cleary referred to how a doctor outlined it to her.
“On admission in A&E, a drop down menu will appear on the screen and cannot be bypassed until all the blood clot risk factors are filled in,” she said.
“If you are deemed at risk, you are given a thrombosis stocking until you see a doctor who then decides if you need an anti-clotting injection. This is so important particularly in UHL where patients can be on trolleys for hours and days.”
Eve’s Protocols will be rolled out all over the country in the near future.
