An analytical review of local and national fall policy and guidelines

Abstract

The prevalence of falls in the United Kingdom is high with 1 in 3 people aged over 65, and 1 in 2 people over the age of 85 falling each year. The potential for older people to fall is exacerbated by mental health problems, such as impaired mental status, depression, dementia, and treatment with psychotropic medication. As such, the National Patient Safety Agency has recommended that NHS organisations understand and acknowledge the high risk of falls in older people using mental health services and use local reports of falls to target and assess their fall prevention strategies. One of the aims of this study, funded by NIHR Research for Patient Benefit is to analyse current local and national falls policy and guidelines specific to mental health settings. We will present an analysis of national falls policy and guidelines, aligned with corresponding documents from all Mental Health Trusts (n=56) in England and Wales which will be collated and analysed to enable extrapolation of factual information on how Trusts interpret and implement the evidence-base. Comparison between the Trusts will also be presented. The poster will also include data collected detailing specific processes that Trusts have implemented to reduce falls incidence. We will also present a 'content analysis', to identify specific themes or concepts 'tested' and 'defined' within and between the different documentation. This poster presents research in progress.