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Open visiting reduces the number of inpatient falls.

By Alistair Kleebauer @alistairbauer THE INTRODUCTION of open visiting has led to a drop in inpatient falls at a large NHS trust. There were 259 fewer falls recorded after open visiting was introduced in April last year at Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull Hospitals. In the first quarter of 2014-15 there were 2,477 falls in the three hospitals, compared with 2,218 falls during the same period in 2015-16, shortly after open visiting began. Heart of England believes that, while other falls prevention work is playing a part, the open visiting policy has made a significant contribution to the reduction. Deputy chief nurse Julie Tunney said the policy allows carers and loved ones to be more involved in the care of older patients and those with dementia. Visitors can assist with care such as helping loved ones to eat and going to the bathroom. She said: ‘Having this support on top of expert care from staff helps reduce the potential for falls in the acute setting, particularly for patients with dementia or delirium who can become easily confused.’ Ms Tunney added that open visiting allows families to stay with patients when doctors and nurses are busy on ward rounds. University of Stirling dementia services development centre director June Andrews said that patients with dementia are more prone than others to falls in hospital. ‘I have said to people “don’t stand because you’ve had your hip replaced”, but they forget and fall over as a result,’ she said.