A pioneering NHS Fife project has cut the number of patients injuring themselves in a hospital fall.
In 2013 an inpatient fell and fractured a bone every eight days.
But following a series of improvements introduced over the last few years, by 2015 this happened every 15 days, a 40% reduction.
The number of harmful falls has been cut by 15% thanks to the initiative which has been supported by a Fife daughter whose father died following a fall in the Victoria Hospital.
Now patients are assessed at the acute hospital’s front door for frailty.
The nationally recognised frailty assessment service, the first of its kind in Scotland, has also been pivotal in reducing harmful falls.
It brings together elderly medicine consultants, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and social workers, to identify frailty as soon as possible and ensure patients are assessed and treated in the most appropriate setting.
Also central to these improvements have been Falls Call to Action events, which brought together staff, patients and carer expertise to look at reducing harmful falls.
While the majority of falls lead to no harm, they can contribute to loss of confidence, increased length of hospital stay, and a greater likelihood of discharge into residential or nursing home care.
Elderly Medicine Consultant Dr Sue Pound said: “While anyone can have a fall it is more likely in older patients, especially those with long-term conditions, and it can have significant consequences for their health and wellbeing.
“Therefore, against a backdrop of increasing frailty and a drive to help people remain independent, the falls reductions we have achieved are not only significant but they are also clinically meaningful.”
NHS Fife is now looking to reduce falls by a further 5% and is set to announce a series of Falls Champions to act as ambassadors for patients more susceptible to falls over the next few months.
Ella Brown has worked closely with the health board following the tragic loss of her father after a hospital fall and fronted the Falls Call to Action events.
She said that following the death of her father, she wanted to channel her negative experiences to make a positive difference.
“The health board was extremely receptive to my ideas and since then I have had the opportunity to represent NHS Fife at local and national events, including sharing my experiences at the NHS Scotland conference, board sessions and the call to action gatherings.”
