Clinical audit of inpatient injurious falls

Background: The local trust inpatient falls rate is 5.27 falls per 1000 bed days. In the previous year (2023/24) this was 5.62 falls per 1000 bed days recorded. This shows a consistent trend of remaining below the national average of 6.63 per 1000 bed days. As a result of this, we are focusing on inpatient injurious falls.

Methods: In the hospital, there is an established Falls panel, consisting of leads on safety, safeguarding and specialist in falls prevention, management and bone health treatment. The panel reviews any falls that result in moderate or severe harm, such as fractures, head injuries, need for surgery and death as a result. All omissions in practice and learning are shared across the trust.

Data collection: Clinical audit of inpatient injurious falls were audited for three years.

Results: Audit results;

• Average compliance per patient was 83%, up from 78% the previous year & 68% the year before
• 100% of patients had a falls risk assessment completed compared to 97% the year before.
• 66% had a postural BP measurement taken prior to the fall, compared to 51% the year before, and 17% the year before that.
• 90% were examined on the floor post fall prior to moving, compared to 71% the previous year.
• 41% had postural BP measured post fall, a slight decrease from 46% the year before.

Discussion:

The trust has agreed a new metric to achieve a 25% reduction in falls with harm, that occurred as a direct result of omissions/lapses in care. At present we are on target to achieve this aim for this year.