Serious falls reduction at local hospitals

Between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2017, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) has seen a reduction of 21 per cent in people falling…

Between 1 April 2014 and 31 March 2017, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH) has seen a reduction of 21 per cent in people falling and a 76 per cent reduction in incidents resulting in serious injury.

Falls are common in hospital, affecting all ages. They can lead to serious injury such as fractures, brain injuries and in severe circumstances can even result in death. More commonly, falls result in ‘hidden’ harms such as a longer stay in hospital, loss of confidence and independence and an increased need for care at home or even residential care.

Staff at DBTH have been working hard over the last few years to ensure that all people admitted to hospital are assessed for factors that might put them at risk of falls or other harm in hospital, with necessary actions taken to make their stay safer and recovery faster.

Although it’s impossible to completely prevent all falls in hospital, a number of initiatives have been implemented to drive forward holistic and person centred care. By placing an emphasis on all of a patient’s needs, not just immediate medical issues, the Trust has seen safety improve and a decrease in the number of falls.

One major innovation has been the introduction of the Enhanced Care Team last year. This team of specially trained staff provide individualised care to the most vulnerable patients, usually those with dementia or confusion. Going beyond usual ward care, people under the supervision of the team receive individualised support to improve their hospital experience and help keep them free from harm.

Another contributing factor has been review of training across all staff groups, with an emphasis on raising the awareness of the importance of person centred care.

The Trust is also actively promoting campaigns such as #EndPJparalysis, a simple yet effective message which encourages and supports patients to get up and out of bed, into their clothes and take an active role in their recovery, as well as John’s Campaign, an initiative which removes restrictive visiting hours for carers and actively promotes their involvement in treatment and care.

Dr Vicky Barradell, Consultant in Care of Older People and Clinical Falls Lead for the Trust, said: “Meeting the holistic needs of the people in our care, including maintaining their safety in hospital, is of the utmost importance to us. The substantial reduction in falls over the last few years is testament to the innovation, dedication and hard work of our fantastic team. Through a number of schemes and projects we have made huge progress in ensuring that we offer high quality, safe care for the people of Doncaster, Bassetlaw and beyond.”

Throughout the next 12 months, the Trust will be continuing to work hard to ensure that improvements are made for a third year in a row.