DCHS Policies

The Trust’s aim is to prevent harm resulting from in-patient falls by assessing each patient individually and identifying their risk in order to develop a care plan to reduce these risks. There is an expectation that clinicians will use the policy framework within everyday practice within DCHS.

DCHS Inpatient services are part of the DCHS Falls and Fracture Prevention framework which contributes towards the wider Derbyshire and Derby City Falls and Fracture Prevention Pathway in identifying and managing patients who are at risk of falls in hospital and onwards as part of discharge plans and communication.

This policy incorporates guidance from the: -
• NICE CG161(2013) “Falls: the assessment and prevention of falls in older people
• National Patient Safety Agency (2011) on “Essential care after an inpatient fall”
• NICE (2015) on “Head Injury: assessment and early management”

The purpose of this policy is to support staff to identify patients who are at risk of falling and to identify the interventions required to reduce the risk of falls and minimise harm to each individual. This policy also provides guidance on how to implement the NICE Quality standards (2015) ‘Assessment after a fall and preventing further falls’

Policy Categories

• Clinical