Volume 12, Issue 6: Falls prevention and deciding when to convey

Falls prevention and deciding when to convey – not just ‘another faller’

A category 3 call comes through for an 82-year-old male; the patient has fallen and is unable to get up. On arrival you find the police have gained entry to the property and the patient is lying on the floor, very distressed. You begin your primary survey, seems routine, but what can you do to really improve the outcome for this patient?

CPD benefit

For older people falls can have a massive physical, psychological and sociological impact and are estimated to cost the NHS more than £2.3 billion per year. This article highlights that the ambulance service is uniquely placed to deliver effective primary and secondary prevention for patients who have fallen. Comprehensive guidance is given on how to complete a thorough, holistic assessment, taking into account risk factors and complications and utilising shared decision making with senior clinicians where necessary. This will enable you to safely manage a falls patient, avoid hospital admission and advocate fall prevention, thus improving patient outcome

Assessment Answers

To check your answers to the quiz please see the back page of the issue.  The reference list for this article is available through the link below.

Standby CPD – Vol. 12 no. 6 – References