Falls in hospital are, by far, the most common patient safety issue in healthcare. Over 250,000 falls are reported every year in hospitals in England and Wales. It is an issue the NHS is very aware of, and hospital staff are expected to take measures to minimise the risk of falls for every patient, but sometimes things can go wrong and injuries do happen.

Around 30-50% of inpatient falls result in a physical injury. Hundreds of thousands of patients every year suffer injuries ranging from bruises, grazes, lacerations to more serious injuries like hip and other fractures, resulting from a fall as an inpatient in hospital.

However, every fall has an impact on the person, whether it is a loss of confidence, increased mental distress, delays in recovery or prolonged time in hospital, which can have mental and physical consequences too.

Why are people more likely to fall in hospital?

There are lots of reasons why patients are more likely to fall in hospital. It is an unfamiliar environment and that can be disorientating with bright lights, new faces, different sounds and different surfaces to contend with. There will be unfamiliar furniture, and it may not be placed conveniently to use for support as they may have at home. Patients may also have medical devices, like drips, pumps or catheters, attached to them, making movements riskier.

Of course, it’s important to remember that patients are also not in their best health and may be experiencing anxiety, pain, discomfort and increased distress.

What are hospitals doing to reduce the risk of a fall?

When a patient is admitted to hospital, a risk assessment must be carried out and, if necessary, steps must put in place to prevent them falling.

Patients who are at a high-risk of falls include:

• Those over 65 years old
• Young people and children
• Those with a visual impairment
• Those with a history of falls
• Those with mobility issue
• Those with low blood pressure
• Those with conditions like dementia or cognitive impairment, or those who are confused
• Those on medication that may affect balance and cause dizziness
• Those who have had a prolonged stay in hospital

Reasonable and appropriate preventative measures should be put in place for each individual high-risk patient.  These could include:

• Ensuring the call bell is within easy reach so the patient does not have to reach too far and risking falling out of bed
• Lowering the bed to make getting in and out easier
• Using bed rails to prevent accidental rolls out of bed
• If the patient is likely to try and climb over a bed rail, crash mats could be used instead to soften any fall
• Ensuring walking aids within reach and furniture is not a hazard
• Keeping areas around their bed clear and dry to avoid trips and slips
• Increased supervision and support to monitor their state of mind and aid any movements.
• Reminders about what to do or who to call if they need to move or get up.

Can you claim for a fall in hospital?

Hospitals are responsible for the safety of their patients and should take reasonable measures to prevent their patients from having a fall. It is their duty of care. If they don’t take steps to prevent a fall and the patient is caused avoidable harm as a result of their negligence, the patient may have a claim.

If you, or someone you love, has suffered harm during a fall in hospital due to negligence, our experienced medical negligence team may be able to help.

Call 02920 391773 or email medicalnegilence@geldards.com