Posters

Introduction Following the NICE head injury guideline update in 2023, the Older Persons Same Day Emergency Care Unit (OSDEC) at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust updated the admission criteria to include older people (>85 years or >75 years with Parkinson’s Disease) presenting with fall and head injury (without any other significant trauma) on anticoagulation or antiplatelet medications (excluding aspirin monotherapy). Older people are admitted directly to OSDEC from ambulance/community services or are admitted from the Emergency Department (ED). This service evaluation aims to

Introduction Fragility fractures cause pain, mobility problems and negatively impact on people’s quality of life. Hip fractures have a high mortality rate, with 20% of people dying within 1 year after surgery. Falls increase the risk of fragility fractures. NICE and the National Osteoporosis Group Guidelines recommend a bone health assessment be undertaken in people with a history of falls. The FRAX tool is an easy to use tool to predict osteoporosis risk and guide treatment. Our quality improvement project aimed to improve the number of people having an assessment their bone health when

Introduction Economic evidence is essential for guiding decisions on the implementation and scaling of fall prevention strategies. This project aimed to develop and test a system dynamics model to project the health and economic impact of fall prevention initiatives for Australians aged 50 and over in community and residential aged care settings, over the period 2024–2035. Method We updated and expanded an existing system dynamics model of osteoporosis and related health and economic impact in Australia which was originally developed through a participatory approach involving a 32-member

Compliance with Fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX®) assessment in patients presenting with falls and admitted via acute medical take: a baseline audit in a UK district general hospital Background: Falls are a major risk factor for fragility fractures. The National Osteoporosis Guideline Group (NOGG) recommends fracture risk assessment using FRAX® in eligible patients; however, compliance with this recommendation in routine clinical practice is uncertain Aim: To assess compliance with FRAX® fracture risk assessment in eligible patients admitted following falls. Methods: A retrospective audit

Introduction The BGS recently published ‘Pragmatic prescribing to reduce harm for older people with moderate to severe frailty’ endorsed by RCP, RCGP and RPS. This guidance provides a blood pressure target of 140 – 160 mmHg in patients with a CFS of ≥6. This is more lenient than standard guidelines, acknowledging the risk of overtreatment; a consideration which has not been previously incorporated in conventional blood pressure targets. To integrate this guideline into local prescribers’ practice, translating theory into benefit for our patients, we undertook a quality improvement project

Introduction: Balance control relies on cognition. Studies have found that cognitive resources are more likely to be depleted during complex balance tasks, whereas meditation may aid their replenishment. However, existing research has focused on task complexity rather than intensity. This study addressed this by using the validated 100-point Balance Intensity Scale-Therapist (BIS-T) to objectively define low (<30/100) and high (>70/100) intensity balance tasks. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and methodological rigour of the protocol to investigate 1) cognitive resources

Introduction: Vasovagal syncope is a common condition among older adults and can result in fall-related injuries. The symptoms of vasovagal episodes can be recognised by patients and reduced through self-management strategies. Therefore, increasing patient and family/carer education surrounding this condition could help reduce falls and ultimately reduce hospital admissions. The aim of this QIP was to assess doctors existing practises regarding patients presenting with falls due to vasovagal syncope, patient education, and assessing whether a leaflet providing further information would be

Polypharmacy is highly prevalent among frail older adults due to multi-morbidity and is a major contributor to medication-related harm. Of particular concern is anticholinergic burden, resulting from the cumulative use of drugs with anticholinergic properties. In frail older patients, high anticholinergic burden is associated with cognitive impairment, delirium, falls, functional decline, increased hospitalisation and mortality. Careful medication review and reduction of anticholinergic burden are therefore important components of comprehensive geriatric care. Methods: A retrospective review

Introduction Older adults with mobility impairment are at increased risk of falls, often accompanied by fear of falling, frailty, and reduced independence. Within Chiltern Hills Primary Care Network (PCN), a strategic priority is to support older patients with mobility difficulties to reduce falls risk, prevent frailty, and improve overall wellbeing. In 2024, we introduced the GaitSmart digital gait assessment solution to proactively identify and address mobility decline before falls occur or health significantly deteriorates. Methods One Care Coordinator was trained to deliver the GaitSmart

Introduction Our Falls Service utilises an open referral pathway providing rapid access to multi-factorial assessment. Restrictive eligibility criteria, such as falls history, may limit opportunities for earlier identification of risk factors. Evidence and clinical experience indicate that individuals without previous falls can still benefit from comprehensive assessment. Community-based assessments facilitate identification and management of falls risk, incidental findings, delivery of tailored education, advice and appropriate onward referrals. This evaluation examines the clinical value

Background: Fragility fractures are a major source of morbidity and mortality in frail, older adults (1). Early identification of osteoporosis risk allows for timely referral, investigation, and management. Baseline practice in the Frailty Department showed no use of FRAX (fracture risk assessment tool), resulting in missed opportunities for prevention (2). Aim: To increase use of FRAX within the Frailty Department to guide referrals to rheumatology, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanning, or initiation of immediate treatment. Methods: Baseline data collection was undertaken to

Introduction In older adults, the inability to rise independently after a fall increases the risk of long-lies and associated complications. Up to 65% of individuals attended by ambulance crews post-fall are assisted up without requiring further medical intervention. This study investigated the effectiveness of Floor-Rise Training (FRT) in improving floor-rise ability and reducing fear of falling in community-dwelling older adults. Method This pilot cluster-randomised controlled trial was conducted within five existing Otago exercise classes. Sixty-one participants aged ≥65 years were enrolled

Introduction: Proximal femur fractures in older adults are common and often lead to lasting mobility impairments. Evidence comparing mobility outcomes between different surgical procedures with early full weight-bearing, such as osteosynthesis and prosthetic replacement, is limited. The aim of this study is to examine differences in mobility outcomes between both procedures to inform future treatment decisions. Method: Patients aged 65 years and older, treated for proximal femur fracture at the Trauma Surgery Unit at the Klinikum Oldenburg in Germany were enrolled. Besides others, the De

Objective To review and synthesise the existing evidence on the effects of peripheral nerve block (PNB) compared with no nerve block on the incidence of postoperative delirium (POD) in adults undergoing hip fracture repair. Methods A systematic search of electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library) for relevant literature published from database inception to 1st May 2025 was conducted. Randomised controlled trials with PNBs as an intervention in adults undergoing surgery for hip fractures were selected. Studies that excluded patients with preoperative

Introduction: Physical resilience represents a person’s ability to maintain mobility or physical function despite aging, illness, or an acute adverse event such as a fall. Notably, falls are often a sentinel event and a significant cause of rapid functional decline, or loss of independence. Thus, we aimed to identify characteristics of physical resilience among older adults who have experienced a recent fall, which may help identify those at greater risk of decline and other adverse outcomes. Methods: Participants were patients of a geriatrician-led falls prevention clinic who were recruited

Introduction: Prolonged emergency department (ED) length of stay beyond 12 hours is a performance priority and disproportionately affects older adults presenting with falls and mobility impairment. We evaluated a pilot integrating Urgent Community Response (UCR) clinicians within the ED frailty service to support early assessment, admission avoidance, and timely discharge. Methods: A five-day service evaluation was undertaken from 12th – 16th May 2025. A UCR matron was co-located with the ED frailty team from 08:00–18:00. Patients were jointly identified through screening of the ED board and

Introduction Falls with head injury in older adults frequently prompt ambulance conveyance to the Emergency Department (ED), despite many patients being clinically stable. Unnecessary conveyance contributes to ED crowding and may expose older patients living with frailty to avoidable risks. This abstract evaluates a collaborative “call before conveyance” model between South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) paramedics and a specialist frailty team, assessing whether selective non-conveyance is safe and effective. Method Between June and November 2025, paramedics attending patients aged ≥65

Introduction: Current national and international guidelines recommend intravenous zoledronic acid as first line choice post hip fracture. The aim of this work was to analyse treatment choices made by orthogeriatric team over the last four years and assess opportunities for improvement in the pathway. Method: Data was collected retrospectively, using NHFD dataset for Royal Albert Edward Infirmary over 4 year period (2022 – 2025). Details of treatment choice were analysed across the 4 years with particular focus on timeline from admission to hospital to first dose of intravenous zoledronic acid

Introduction: Medication is recognised as potential contributory cause for falls and NICE guidelines recommend a medication review for all hospital inpatients, as a standard component of comprehensive assessment. Recent research suggest that up to 16% of hospital admissions are either a direct result or contributed by an adverse reaction to medication. Understanding the frequency of medication contributing towards falls admission however has not been clearly defined in literature. Method: Data was collected retrospectively, using local coding for hospital admissions over 12 month period (01.04

Introduction The overall incidence of “mild” traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is increasing due to the growing number of older persons. Often, after clinical examination, older adults with mTBI are released from the hospital without any further treatment or recommendations on how to avoid falling. The potential of Digital Mobility Outcomes (DMOs) to improve follow-up care by providing post-TBI guidance and concrete measures is evaluated. Methods Adults over the age of 65 with mTBI are currently taking part in this ongoing pilot study.Alongside a mixed-methods assessment of medical history