CCG announce patient safety project on International awareness day
NHS Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Group announce its local ‘falls prevention’ project on World Patient Safety Day 2019 which aims to protect elderly care home residents from serious injury resulting from a fall.
‘React to Falls’ prevention is an NHS campaign which educates people on prevention of falls, the risks associated with falling. By adapting this national approach, the CCG is currently working with 27 care homes in the Vale of York with over 200 carers trained since June 2019.
The CCG provide a training programme which includes a series of educational videos, group activities, resources and on-going support to the care homes signed up.
Lee Stephenson, Deputy Care Home Manager at Birchlands said: “The training and support provided by the CCG has been very helpful and provided our staff with new knowledge and an adapted approach to protecting people in our care. We are always looking for ways to improve and ‘React to Falls’ Prevention has ultimately contributed to making our premises as safe as possible for residents.
Early success of the project is providing outcomes such as raised awareness, a proactive approach to care and reducing risk of falls.
Michelle Carrington, the CCG’s Executive Director of Quality and Nursing said: “Residents in care homes often have complex care needs and are increasingly frail, with evidence suggesting they are three times more likely to fall than elderly frail people living in their own homes. The training provided by the CCG considers each resident individually addressing their physical, behavioural and environmental needs.
“Importantly we could not complete this without the unwavering determination of the care home staff to keep their residents safe from harm.”
The ‘React to Falls’ prevention project follows on from the successful ‘React to Red’ pressure ulcer prevention work, which reduced pressure ulcers in Vale of York care homes by 75%. This project is currently shortlisted for a Nursing Times and HSJ award and winners will be announced at award ceremonies later this year.
Commenting on the International Awareness Day Michelle said: “Patient safety is incredibly important to the CCG and our dedicated team of nurses work on a number of projects which put patients at the heart of everything they do. This includes work in care homes, research, children’s services and quality assurance.”
For more information on the patient safety work led by the CCG visit: https://www.valeofyorkccg.nhs.uk/our-work/
Project Nurse Helen delivering React to Falls Prevention Training at Fulford Care Home
