A HOSPITAL worker has designed a new tool designed to help reduce patients falls.

Falls in hospitals are the most commonly reported patient safety incident across the UK, with thousands reported each week in acute hospitals and mental health trusts.

And the Royal Bolton Hospital's falls lead, Tony Mackay, has now designed ‘My fallers ID’; a unique tool to support staff caring for patients at risk of falls and help them remember key risk factors.

The tool will reduce falls by reminding staff of the elements to consider when putting falls management plans in place.

The system gives staff visual prompts for checking blood pressure, identifying sensory needs, considering the environment and much more – all of which can contribute to a patient being at increased risk of falling.

It is hoped the visual prompts will enable for easier and more efficient ways to monitor and care for hospital patients.

Tony said, “I wanted to help staff in thinking holistically when supporting patients at risk of falls. We thought it was really important to have a visual prompt to help them when caring for patients, and I devised the acronym to help them remember the key risk factors.”

There are a number of risk factors for falls - most notably, the age of someone. People aged 65 and older are at the highest risk of falls, with around a third of people aged 65 and over falling at least once a year.

Other risks includes muscle weakness, poor balance, visual impairment, the use of certain medicines and environmental hazards.

Some specific medical conditions might also make a person more likely to fall.

Lucy Bradshaw, an acute services hospital matron, added: “We noticed at falls panels that there were some recurring themes, which the acronym will support to reduce. Staff are now aware of the tool, and it is now fully embedded in the list of interventions that can be applied to prevent falls.”