The programme has an expert advisory group that includes service, practice, professional, research and consumer perspectives. The clinical lead role is held by Sandy Blake( Director of Nursing, Patient Safety and Quality, at Whanganui District Health Board) in recognition of the responsibility for safety that nurses’ continuity of patient contact gives them.
In care settings, a‘ duty of care’ means managers, professionals, care givers and other support workers are concerned that older people are in safe environments and receive quality care. We do not wish to see anyone in our care come to harm. Being concerned about safety and quality of care for anyone receiving health services or health-funded care is a priority for the Commission and service providers.
Taking a broader population health approach, we are also committed to supporting older people in taking positive actions to stay on their feet – keeping active, well and healthy.
Why we need to reduce falls
Falls are costly, whether they take place in the community, or in hospital
• The health service costs of a fall causing minor injuries are estimated at $ 600.
• A hip fracture causing a threeweek stay in hospital is estimated to cost $ 47,000, and a hip fracture with complications and discharge to an aged residential care facility $ 135,000. 3
• The direct costs of patient falls in hospitals for 2010 – 11 were between $ 3 million and $ 5 million. 4
• However, figures from international studies and analysis of New Zealand data suggest the total resources used by falls are 2 – 2.5 times higher than the direct costs – which would mean the true cost could have been about $ 6 – 12 million per annum. 5
Falls have human costs
• Older people are more likely to fall because of medical conditions( such as delirium, cardiac conditions, neurological conditions, muscular-skeletal conditions or side effects from medicines) or problems with balance, strength or mobility.
• Having poor eyesight or poor memory can increase an older person’ s risk of falling, especially when they are in an unfamiliar environment.
3 De Raad JP. 2012. Towards a value proposition … scoping the cost of falls. Wellington: New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. 4 Ibid. 5 Hamblin R. 2013. Working paper. Wellington: Health Quality & Safety Commission.
14