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Falls in older people: assessment after a fall and preventing further falls [QS86]

Measuring the use of this guidance

Statement: 1

Older people who fall during a hospital stay are checked for signs or symptoms of fracture and potential for spinal injury before they are moved.

Quality standard measure: Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that hospitals have a post‑fall protocol that includes checks for signs or symptoms of fracture and potential for spinal injury before the older person is moved.
What was measured: The proportion of hospital trusts/health boards who have a post-falls protocol.
Data collection end: May 2015
100%
Area covered: England and Wales
Source: Falls and Fragility Fractures Audit Programme (FFFAP) – Inpatient Falls


Statement: 2

Older people at risk of falling are offered a multifactorial falls risk assessment.

Quality standard measure: Proportion of older people at risk of falling presenting to a healthcare professional who are referred for multifactorial falls risk assessment.
What was measured: Proportion of older patients presenting due to a fall that are referred for a falls risk assessment.
Data collection end: June 2016
32%
Area covered: England and Wales
Source: Royal College of Physicians. Fracture Liaison Service Database (FLS-DB) clinical audit


Statement: 4

Older people who present for medical attention because of a fall have a multifactorial falls risk assessment.

Quality standard measure: Proportion of older people who present for medical attention to their general practice because of a fall who have a multifactorial falls risk assessment.
What was measured: Proportion of index fractures that had evidence in the GP electronic records of a formal falls risk assessment.
Data collection end: March 2013
3.9%
Area covered: England
Source: Royal College of Physicians - Fracture Liaison Service Database (FLS-DB) Feasibility Study Summary Report


Statement: 5

Older people living in the community who have a known history of recurrent falls are referred for strength and balance training.

Quality standard measure: Proportion of older people living in the community with a known history of recurrent falls reporting to their GP who are referred for strength and balance training.
What was measured: Proportion of index fractures that had evidence in the GP electronic records of an exercise plan.
Data collection end: March 2013
0.8%
Area covered: England
Source: Royal College of Physicians - Fracture Liaison Service Database (FLS-DB) Feasibility Study Summary Report

Quality standard measure: Evidence of local arrangements to ensure that older people living in the community who have a known history of recurrent falls are referred for strength and balance training.
What was measured: The proportion of fracture liaison services who refer patients to exercise programmes refer to one that includes strength and balance training.
Data collection end: December 2014
94%
Area covered: England
Source: Royal College of Physicians. Fracture Liaison Service Database (FLS-DB) Facilities audit


Statement: 8

Older people living in the community who have a known history of recurrent falls are referred for strength and balance training.

Quality standard measure: Proportion of older people living in the community who report recurrent falls to a healthcare practitioner in hospital who are referred for strength and balance training.
What was measured: Proportion of patients that were directly referred to a strength and balance exercise programme.
Data collection end: June 2016
1%
Area covered: England and Wales
Source: Royal College of Physicians. Fracture Liaison Service Database (FLS-DB) clinical audit



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