Pandemic concern over fall patient increase at NHS Grampian

NHS Grampian said it will assess the situation, but that it may be a blip

Post-pandemic "deconditioning" could be why more older patients are being admitted to hospital after falls, NHS Grampian staff have been told.

A staff briefing seen by BBC Scotland News suggests this decline in physical functioning - often due to inactivity - may be causing the rise.

The first week of November 2023 saw nearly 90% more fall patients than during the same week in 2022.

NHS Grampian said it would assess the situation, but that it may be a blip.

The briefing note sent to staff on 13 November said: "Over-65s accounted for 56% of falls in 2019, but 69% last week.

"Is it a sign of deconditioning post-pandemic or are more people out and about?"

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Data suggests 25 people were admitted to hospital from A&E after a fall during the first week of November 2022, the figure for the same week in 2023 was 47.

A spokeswoman for the health authority said that NHS Grampian, other health boards and Public Health Scotland would assess the situation.

She added: "What is going on will be assessed over time, using all the data sources we can lay our hands on, and we will try and arrive at a conclusion."

The trend in such incidents occurring has been described as "worrying" by Age Scotland.

Adam Stachura, the charity's head of policy and communications said: "It's remarkable how many more people are having falls and will require medical care.

"We need to see this stopping and declining in the next few years, otherwise the health of the nation will deteriorate."

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