Simulation Training for Falls on the Older Adult Mental Health Wards
Aims: Falls are the most commonly reported patient safety incident in all older adult (OA) inpatient wards, and studies suggest there may be up to three times as many falls in OA mental health, compared with physical health settings. Many factors present on the mental health wards may influence this...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Cambridge University Press
2025-06-01
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| Series: | BJPsych Open |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2056472425103165/type/journal_article |
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| Summary: | Aims: Falls are the most commonly reported patient safety incident in all older adult (OA) inpatient wards, and studies suggest there may be up to three times as many falls in OA mental health, compared with physical health settings. Many factors present on the mental health wards may influence this, including higher levels of agitation, psychotropic side-effects, a culture of promoting recovery through activity and a higher prevalence of side rooms resulting in less direct observation. There are four OA mental health wards within South London and the Maudsley NHS Trust. Following an analysis of serious incidents, falls prevention and management was identified as an area for improvement. Work to date has included updating the clinical falls policy, promoting a ‘falls awareness week’ and introducing a mandatory falls e-learning module. However, concerns remained about the practical application of this learning. As such we developed and delivered a half-day simulation course, with the aim of engaging staff in a enjoyable, practical session which would allow for reflective discussions and embed the new falls policy within ward culture. |
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| ISSN: | 2056-4724 |