The National Patient Safety Agency
(NPSA) has worked with other
organisations to examine research
evidence and information on falls
in hospitals, including over 200,000
incidents reported to the NPSA’s
National Reporting and Learning
System (NRLS) in a one-year
period from acute and community
hospitals, and mental health units.
Although 96 per cent of these
incidents resulted in minor
injuries or no harm, even these
can reduce patients’ confidence,
lead to delays in discharge and
the loss of independent living.
From these incident reports
it can be estimated that over
500 people suffer hip fractures
each year following a fall
in hospital, with potentially
devastating consequences
for their long-term health.
The analysis identified 26 deaths
following falls in hospital, with
those patients most likely to
fall often being those who are
most vulnerable to injury