3-09-03

Barrett demands Commons debate on DVT following constituent death

John Barrett, Scottish Liberal Democrat MP for Edinburgh West, today promised to seek an early parliamentary debate on deep vein thrombosis, following the sudden death of a constituent last week.

Despite receiving medication from her GP, Carolanne Douglas from Ratho Station collapsed and died from DVT just a week after her return holiday flight from Turkey.  Her husband has already called for a full inquiry.

John Barrett, who's Edinburgh West constituency includes Ratho Station, has now pledged to write to the Speaker of the House of Commons when Parliament returns from the summer recess next week, asking for a full debate on the issues surrounding the illness.

Mr Barrett said:

"It is estimated that one in ten people who fly long distance develop blood clots which have the potential to lead to deep vein thrombosis.   The death of Mrs Douglas has been a tragic reminder of the impact of DVT, which all too often is not taken seriously enough.

"When I challenged the Prime Minister about this in the House of Commons last year, he merely said passengers should follow the medical advice available.  However, airlines are still not required by law to provide such information on their flights and any changes are unlikely to come before the conclusion of the World Health Organisation's study in 2004.  In the meantime, hundreds of thousands of people will develop potentially life threatening blood clots.

"The Government simply cannot afford to sit on its hands any longer.  They must demand that airlines provide advice on every long distance flight on the known ways to reduce DVT and issue new regulations to increase the distance between passenger seats.  Such moves would go a long way to reducing the potential of this deadly condition."

ENDS