Unsupervised elderly patients ‘prone to falls’

ELDERLY patients left to shower unsupervised are particularly prone to slips, trips and falls in the country’s hospitals, according to data supplied to the Irish Patients Association (IPA).

Of 1,784 such falls recorded nationally over a six-year period from January 2004 to December 2008, 16% occurred in geriatric medicine.

Less than 3% (46) related to the failure or malfunction or lack of medical devices and equipment, or to the use of wrong equipment.

Instead, more than four in 10 patients (742) who fell, did so while moving unsupervised, one-third (582) fell from a chair and 307 (17%) fell while moving under supervision. In addition, it was noted that 16% (280) of falls relating to showering involved the patient being “found” in the shower area having fallen.

Of all fall events reported between 2004 and 2008, more than three-quarters recorded an outcome of no apparent injury/reaction. Bruising was reported in 12% of cases, followed by laceration (8%); graze (2%); fracture (1%); and multiple injuries (0.9%).

While most showering-related falls were among geriatric patients, general medicine patients accounted for 15%, adult mental health 13%, learning/intellectual disability 11% and rehabilitation medicine and orthopaedic surgery 4% each.

34 incidents (or 2%) involved service users suffering from dizziness, lightheadedness and/or fainting. Other common risk factors include urinary incontinence, poor mobility, and cognitive impairment.

There were no events logged with an outcome of fatality.

The data was supplied by the state Clinical Indemnity Scheme (CIS) after the IPA requested it following a complaint by the relative of a patient who fell while showering.

IPA chair Stephen McMahon said the report illustrated the need for more safety vigilance when patients are showering.

Mr McMahon said the figures, which represent just 1% of the total 117,826 slips/trips/falls recorded nationally by the CIS over the six-year period, were “the tip of the iceberg as fall events in nursing homes are not included”.

He urged families and patients “to make sure that fall prevention programmes are in place in all health care settings including toilets and showers”.