Atypical Presentation of Guillain-Barré Syndrome with Preceding Severe Hyponatremia
Assessing IV Cannula Use: An Audit on Reducing Unnecessary Prolongation and Associated Risks
Bone health assessment practices in older patients and patients with a lower limb amputation on a regional vascular surgery ward
Improving Advance Care Planning Completion in Primary Care
Introduction Advance care planning (ACP) is a patient-centred discussion involving the patient, family, and healthcare professional to ensure future care aligns with patient wishes. In Wales, this includes two recognised documents for those with capacity, and a best interests form for those without, completed by a Lasting Power of Attorney or IMCA. ACPs in the elderly population have been shown to enhance quality of life, communication, and reduce unwanted hospital admissions. This project aimed to improve ACP completion in primary care. Method Forty-one residents, who were registered to Roath
Vision screening in older adults who attend hospital following a fall: a scoping review.
Introduction: The assessment of impaired vision is included in falls prevention guidance for older adults but implementation is variable. We conducted a scoping review to better understand current practice and inform future implementation research around vision assessments for older adults attending acute hospitals following a fall. Methods: JBI methodology was followed. MEDLINE, AMED, EMBASE, PsychInfo, CINAHL and WebofScience were systematically searched for literature on the assessment of vision in older adults attending acute hospitals following a fall. Sources eligible for inclusion had a
Barriers perceived by medical students when considering a career in geriatric medicine.
Introduction Despite the UK’s increasing life expectancy, and increase in the elderly population, there is an overwhelming lack of Geriatricians in the UK; as of 2022, there is only 1 consultant Geriatrician per 8,031 individuals over the age of 65 (BGS, 2023). To meet the complex care needs of this population, there must be a focus on increasing the interest that doctors have towards Geriatric Medicine, with the overall aim being to recruit more doctors into the speciality. Method The aim of this review was to investigate what factors medical students perceive as barriers to pursuing a career
Reducing anticholinergic burden (ACB) within the elderly care wards through implementation of automated alerts
Introduction: Polypharmacy is a major risk for older patients aged 65 and above. Commonly prescribed medications may have anticholinergic properties causing dry mouth, constipation, and urinary retention which can exacerbate delirium in older adults1. ACB scores help quantify the cumulative effect of these medications. ACB scores of three or more are associated with confusion, falls and death2. Aim: To evaluate whether automated alerts of ACB scores help reduce scores and encourage medication reviews in older patients. Method: Over two weeks, automated alerts were set up within the hospital’s
Case-Finding for Falls Prevention: Wigan Pilot
Compliance with Nutritional Assessment Guidelines and Its Impact in Older Adults with Neck of Femur Fractures: A Re-Audit at Medway maritime hospital
Abstract title - Compliance with Nutritional Assessment Guidelines and Its Impact in Older Adults with Neck of Femur Fractures: A Re-Audit at Med Abstract Author Name - R Nahar1; V Debnath1; F Jamil2; S Kumar3; A Khattak4; M Shoaib5 Abstract Provenance - 1. Dept of Elderly Care, Medway Maritime Hospital; 2. Dept of Elderly Care, Medway Maritime Hospital; 3. Dept of Elderly Care, Medway Maritime Hospital; 4. Dept of Elderly Care, Medway Maritime Hospital; 5. Dept of Elderly Care, Medway Maritime Hospital; 6. Dept of Elderly Care, Medway Maritime Hospital; Abstract Content - Title- Compliance
Improving the Use of Digital Delirium Assessment Tools through Redesign and Teaching
Background Pop-Up Digital assessments utilising screening tools such as the 4AT could been seen as a method to improve early diagnosis. The aim of this project is to improve the use of the 4AT through a redesigned pop-up Delirium Assessment, and to see whether its use would improve following raising awareness though ‘Dementia Action Week’. Methods Thirty patients' medical records from emergency admissions containing the medical coding criteria ‘Confusion’, ‘Delirium’, and ‘Dementia’ were included for each cycle. Patients under 65, and those admitted for less than 24 hours were excluded. The
Improving the number of inpatient falls by introducing inpatient falls risk assessment by doctors in geriatric wards.
Introduction Inpatient falls remain a major healthcare challenge, with an average rate of 6.6 per 1,000 occupied bed-days in NHS England and Wales hospitals. Prevention of falls during hospital stay based on identifying and managing the modifiable risks are challenging. Multifactorial falls risk assessment and prevention action plan (MFRA FPAP) is a proforma booklet adopted by ABUHB. Methodology The initial QIP (2022–2024) revealed incomplete and poor-quality MFRA. Falls champions were introduced for a period of time, it showed an improvement, but was not sustained. Due to a rise in in-patient
Development and implementation of an acute bone health assessment toolkit for patients presenting with falls to the medical take
Improving Bone Health in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Retrospective Study in a DGH
Title: Improving Bone Health in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Retrospective Study in a DGH Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, but its impact on bone health is often overlooked. Over 40% of individuals with PD experience recurrent falls, with more than a two-fold increased risk of hip fractures and nearly double the risk of non-vertebral fractures—largely influenced by mobility impairments, vitamin D deficiency, and long-term effects of medication. The aim of this study was to evaluate local compliance with bone health
Improving Bone Health in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Retrospective Study in a DGH
Title: Improving Bone Health in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Retrospective Study in a DGH Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, but its impact on bone health is often overlooked. Over 40% of individuals with PD experience recurrent falls, with more than a two-fold increased risk of hip fractures and nearly double the risk of non-vertebral fractures—largely influenced by mobility impairments, vitamin D deficiency, and long-term effects of medication. The aim of this study was to evaluate local compliance with bone health
Improving bone health assessment in inpatients presenting with falls: an updated quality improvement project
Introduction Fragility fractures are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Early identification of patients at risk is essential for prevention. Bone health assessment tools are recommended in current clinical guidelines for those at risk. Despite this, baseline audit data showed that only 3% of patients admitted to a geriatric ward following a fall had a bone health assessment completed within 72 hours of admission. This project aimed to increase the completion rate of bone health assessments to over 90%. Methods A series of targeted interventions were implemented over four
Visual assessment in patients admitted with falls: an audit of current practices and recommendations for improvement.
Falls, frailty, and the cost of delay: a case review on prolonged hospitalisation following a non-surgical fracture
Improving Structured Medication Reviews to Address Polypharmacy in Hospitalised Older Adults: A Two-Cycle QIP
Introduction: Polypharmacy—commonly defined as the use of five or more medications—is highly prevalent among older adults and is associated with increased risks of adverse drug events, falls, cognitive impairment, hospital admissions, and reduced quality of life. Inappropriate polypharmacy, where medications provide limited benefit or cause harm, represents a significant patient safety concern. Structured medication reviews (SMRs), supported by validated deprescribing tools such as STOPP/START and Beers Criteria, are essential for identifying and addressing potentially inappropriate