NHS Improvement investigates inpatient falls

NHS Improvement has launched an investigation into the cost and prevalence of inpatient falls across the health service, in order to better understand the scope of the problem and help trusts tackle it.

The regulator is currently gathering data on the numbers of falls recorded in 2015-16 and will use the data to calculate the approximate cost of falls to the NHS, estimated at around £15 million a year.

Inpatient falls can lead to further harm befalling the patients, which can result in a further need of one to one nursing care, which when unplanned, means hospitals rely on colts agency staff.

The regulator is also set to create a ‘falls collaboratives’ which highlights examples of good practice that can be replicated across the NHS.

Ruth May, executive director of nursing at NHS Improvement and deputy chief nursing officer for England, said: “A key part of NHS Improvement’s mission is to help the NHS share good practice, and these examples of reducing patient falls and improving care are clearly helping frail and vulnerable patients.

“Everybody knows that this is a critical year for the NHS. As a service, we are throwing everything at the challenge we have been set and already starting to see signs of improvement, both clinically and financially.”