NHS Improvement National Patient Safety Alert: Inappropriate anticoagulation of patients with a mechanical heart valve

NHS Improvement has published details of a National Patient Safety Alert around inappropriate anticoagulation of patients with a mechanical heart valve.

Incidents have been reported of patients with a mechanical heart valve being switched to a LMWH or a DOAC. This alert asks GPs and other NHS providers of anticoagulation services to identify any patients who have a record of a mechanical heart valve and are receiving a DOAC, and to urgently review these patients to ensure they are on the most appropriate anticoagulation therapy and monitoring.

Further details of the alert and actions required are available on the NHS Improvement website