Staff at the Trauma and Orthopaedic Unit at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry have been congratulated on their recent success in receiving national recognition from the National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD) “best practice” scheme, measuring high quality and speedy care of patients suffering broken hips.
In its recent report for the year 2012/13, the NHFD singled out Western Trust’s Trauma and Orthopaedic Service for having a low mortality rate.
The Trust’s services sits at 6.7% which was much lower than the national average for the UK which sits at 8.2%.
Also in the report Altnagelvin Hospital came out on top in Northern Ireland in relation to operating on hip fracture patients within 48 hours of admission – Department of Health’s recommended best practice time frame.
The Western Trust’s Trauma and Orthopaedic Service provides care to patients from across Northern Ireland including Fermanagh, Omagh, Strabane, Limavady, Coleraine and Derry District Council areas.
Elaine Way, chief executive of the Western Health and Social Services Trust, said the achievement did not occur overnight.
She added: “Many new and innovative developments have been introduced in the last number of years which led to even better patient experiences and outcomes.
“Staff such as our new orthogeriatrician Dr Brendan Murphy, our FORD nurse Aisling McCloskey, our trauma co-ordinators and fracture liaison nurse Denise Pattison, all helped improve the quality of care our patients receive. I would expect that we will improve further year on year as these developments become more established and well done to all in the trauma and orthopaedic team.”
Alan McKinney, Western Trust interim medical director the “excellent news” demonstrated the high standards of care which the team of staff attained for patients.
He added: “Well done to them – their hard work has significantly improved care for hip fracture patients – from the time of admission to hospital, to discharge as well as making sure people can cope once back at home.”
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