Source: National Patient Safety Agency
Follow this link for the full text
Date of publication: January 2011
Publication type: Report
In a nutshell: The National Patient Safety Agency have issued new recommendations in a Rapid Response Report regarding care following inpatient falls. These guidelines are based on updated national falls data which highlighted failures in detection and treatment of injury among patients who fell, which resulted in fractures or brain injuries. Delays in assessing fallers including delays in fracture detection are cited in relation to many of the incidents reported. The Rapid Response Report recommendations set out the need for neurological observations and checks by nursing staff in addition to safe manual handling – all as part of a post-fall protocol. Accompanying the recommended actions is guidance on how organisations can ensure they remain compliant with the recommendations.
Length of publication: 1 page (report), 13 pages (supporting information)