Annual Report and Accounts - The Great Western Hospital

Priority 3: To reduce harm associated with patient falls
Harm from falls GWH: This year the Trust has focused on a 10% reduction in severe harm and
death from falls in the acute setting, as categorised by the NPSA (National Patient Safety Agency)
guidance. The figures indicate that the Trust’s performance exceeded the target by 32% for the
year.
The acute Trust has an implementation programme for rolling out a new falls care bundle to all adult
wards by April 2012, supported by a training workbook. The care bundle named by the Trust as
“SAFE” (Stratification and Avoidance of Falls in the Environment) is in line with the latest evidence
based guidance on falls prevention in hospitals, as produced by the Royal College of Physicians in
2011. As part of the implementation programme there is a monitoring tool developed by April 2012
to audit compliance of the falls care bundle across the Trust. The focus going forward in 2012/13 will
be to facilitate the acute wards to effectively implement this new care bundle, working towards 95% or
greater compliance by November 2012. This aims to ensure we are providing the best possible
standards of care for patient at risk of falls.
GRAPH – Reduction of serious harm from falls GWH
Reduction of serious harm for falls - GWH
Total Target
Total Achieved
Total Numbers
30
25
20
15
Falls - WCHS
Not possible to set a target for the reduction in numbers of falls resulting in severe harm/death,
as there was not a robust system in place to record the level of harm from reported falls prior to
2011/12. Since merger in June 2011/12, 2 severe harm falls have been recorded and no deaths .
24
Total
22
Target of
24 or less Total
Target of
22 or less
15 15
10
5
0
2010/11 2011/12
April 2010 to March 2012
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