Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

The median time to surgery was 26.9 hours and hospital compliance with the 48-hour standard ranged from 64%-90%. Alamy Stock Photo

Three-quarters of hip fracture patients received surgery within 48 hours of admission last year

However, there was an increase in patients developing bed sores during their inpatient stay.

THREE-QUARTERS OF hip fracture patients received surgery within 48 hours of admission last year.

It’s one of a number of improvements highlighted in the Irish Hip Fracture Database National Report which was published today by the National Office of Clinical Audit.

Professor Deborah McNamara, President of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), said this is a “noteworthy” achievement, “especially in a patient population that is increasingly complex and co-morbid”.

Last year, surgery was carried out on 97% of the 3,845 hip fracture patients across the 16 hospitals surveyed for the report.

Some 75% of those surgeries were carried out within 48 hours and within working hours – a slight increase on 2022’s figure of 74%.

The median time to surgery was 26.9 hours and hospital compliance with the 48-hour standard ranged from 64%-90%.

However, the audit expressed concern with the variance in individual hospital performance.

For example, while 90% of patients received surgery within 48 hours in St Vincent’s Hospital, this figure was 64% in Letterkenny University Hospital.

Another improvement was in the timely admission of patients, with 29% of patients admitted to an orthopaedic ward or taken to theatre within four hours of presenting at the ED, up from 21% in 2022.

Compliance with this standard ranged from 3% in Galway University Hospital to 62% in St James’s Hospital.

The report said it was “encouraging” that over half of the hospitals exceeded the national average and noted that this standard “has long been a challenge for our hospitals” and pointed to “emerging pathways through the EDs that are facilitating a better throughput of hip fracture patients”.

Meanwhile, 87% of patients were mobilised by a physiotherapist on the day of surgery or the day after.

The term “mobilisation” means that, at a minimum, the patient has stood out of bed.

Reasons for not mobilising patients included the patient not being medically fit enough, which accounted for 40% of such instances.

Other reasons for not mobilising included physio staffing issues, in 9% of cases, or the pain being too great, as was the case in 4% of instances where mobilisation on the day or day after surgery did not occur.

Elsewhere, 83% of patients were reviewed by a geriatrician or advanced nurse practitioner during their hospital stay, ensuring tailored care for older adults, a 3% increase on 2022 figures.

In addition, 25% of patients were seen pre-operatively by a geriatrician and 71% received a nutritional risk assessment during their admission in 2023, an increase of 6% from 2022.

However, the report noted as a concern the occurrence of a patient developing a pressure ulcer during their inpatient stay.

The figure last year was 4%, which is up on the 3% figure in 2022 and thus “indicates an area where care protocols could be strengthened to prevent complications after hip fracture surgery”.

Pressure ulcers are more commonly known as bed sores, and 12% of hip fracture patients at Galway University Hospital developed a new ulcer during admission, with this figure ranging from 1%-6% in other hospitals.

This was one of two standards that dropped by 1% last year when compared to 2022, the other being in bone health assessment figures – 88% of patients had a bone health assessment.

Professor Tara Coughlan commended the efforts of healthcare professionals across the 16 participating hospitals and said that the latest report “confirms that the collaborative efforts of dedicated healthcare professionals continue to drive better outcomes for our patients through audit and quality improvement”.

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
29 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barry Murphy
    Favourite Barry Murphy
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 4:02 PM

    It’s the…(British) Open! What’s next – Wembley hosting the All Ireland hurling final next year! Leave some things well alone!

    235
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian
    Favourite Brian
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 4:07 PM

    @Barry Murphy: No, its just The Open.. here it is from the horses mouth https://www.theopen.com/latest/why-it-is-the-open-not-the-british-open

    67
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Barry Murphy
    Favourite Barry Murphy
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 4:08 PM

    @Brian: Fair enough!

    28
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Fagan
    Favourite John Fagan
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 5:09 PM

    @Barry Murphy: Wembley hosts American football. Wembley’s not in America, is it?

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Daniel Skelton
    Favourite Daniel Skelton
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 4:04 PM

    Imagine willingly going to Dublin.

    90
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Éamonn OKane
    Favourite Éamonn OKane
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 4:10 PM

    @Daniel Skelton: Happily

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Byrne
    Favourite David Byrne
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 4:25 PM

    Its a British competition, no to it been held! Enough of this west brits trying tochange pur identity.

    69
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute The Firestarter
    Favourite The Firestarter
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 4:44 PM

    @David Byrne: Oh grow up will you, while we obviously have our own cultural identities, we slavishly follow British sports, media, music culture etc., so trying to pretend that we are completely unique in this little country of ours, is flogging a dead horse. I think it would be amazing to get the Open here, but yes I do realise that there are saddos out there like David who would oppose it on xenophobic grounds.

    81
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute You're Not Serious
    Favourite You're Not Serious
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 6:42 PM

    @David Byrne: then why is it in NI this year?

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tiobraiddroicead
    Favourite tiobraiddroicead
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 4:26 PM

    Yet wouldn’t entertain world rally stage. Typical.

    44
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John D Doe
    Favourite John D Doe
    Report
    Jul 25th 2024, 4:29 AM

    @tiobraiddroicead: no one cares about that nonsense

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jb Walshe
    Favourite Jb Walshe
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 4:15 PM

    They might as well just sponsor it,great lads to throw away taxpayer money

    40
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Byrne
    Favourite Peter Byrne
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 4:19 PM

    @Jb Walshe: I am sure lots if golf enthusiasts would come to Dublin. Government would more than get the investment back not to mention all the publicity. Besides plenty Irish Universities and government bodies sponsor sporting events and all our athletes in Paris are on Sports Ireland grants

    35
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Jb Walshe
    Favourite Jb Walshe
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 4:34 PM

    @Peter Byrne: we have many sporting events Peter,including the Irish Open

    25
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Clyde Bear
    Favourite Clyde Bear
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 7:11 PM

    @Jb Walshe: The Irish Open is not a major and cannot be compared with The Open.

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Old Times
    Favourite Old Times
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 4:43 PM

    The hotels be rubbing their hands at the prospect of this becoming a reality.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Paul
    Favourite Paul
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 4:52 PM

    If the poor immigrants feel put upon maybe they could try they’re luck in a more friendly country I could make a list but it might take me a week or 2

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Alan OConnor
    Favourite Alan OConnor
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 5:08 PM

    @Paul: is that cause you’re slow?

    Their. They’re. There.

    22
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Fr. Fintan Stack
    Favourite Fr. Fintan Stack
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 6:43 PM

    @Alan OConnor: Dare, dare!

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Lulu
    Favourite Lulu
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 5:44 PM

    Portmarnock ?? You know the old saying …..
    If Waterville, Ballybunion and Lahinch were on the east coast, you would never hear of Portmarnock !!!

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Brian Burrough
    Favourite Brian Burrough
    Report
    Jul 25th 2024, 4:45 AM

    @Lulu: just location, infrastructure etc, and we’ll plenty of hotels. Near airport.. lahinch would be brilliant, but not suitable for this size of crowd. U need space between fairways etc for stands

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute peter white
    Favourite peter white
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 5:24 PM

    I would be surprised if it happened, what’s in it for the British? Why would they allow the biggest cash generator in their golfing calendar go abroad. It’s not like the tickets aren’t being sold.

    27
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Boyle
    Favourite Peter Boyle
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 4:42 PM

    Had a tour de France once. Geography should be a school subject.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andy Dillon
    Favourite Andy Dillon
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 5:54 PM

    Why is there some much xenophobia it’s.. the open..a cold competition. We are not giving up sovereignty and rejoining the UK.. get real.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ahhhhh Ted...... Tubridys going into comedy
    Favourite ahhhhh Ted...... Tubridys going into comedy
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 5:55 PM

    Eamon Dunphy wanted to bring Wimbledon FC to Dublin. Let’s get over the Ryder Cup in limerick first before the Patriots get their stained shorts in a knot.

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Albert mckenna
    Favourite Albert mckenna
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 8:23 PM

    Unless they are immigrants there will no where to stay

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute hans vos
    Favourite hans vos
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 11:12 PM

    Yes it’s a good idea. And ask RTE to film the whole lot for an extra bonus.

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute SV3tN8M4
    Favourite SV3tN8M4
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 9:29 PM

    If RTE get broadcasting rights, they might need another Billion Euro bailout, Catherine Martin in on this as well, omg another sh#tshow guaranteed so.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John D Doe
    Favourite John D Doe
    Report
    Jul 24th 2024, 6:54 PM

    FG are playing a blinder

    3
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds