Three simple steps lead to fewer falls

A one-month fall prevention programme ran in July last year in the clinical oncology ward at Prince of Wales Hospital successfully cut the number of patient falls from 22 in the first half of 2013 to six in the second half. Measures taken during the programme included arranging supporting staff to patrol the ward 10 times a day to handle patient needs, putting a list of the bed numbers of high-risk patients on the ward noticeboard to alert staff to take extra attention and placing posters and slogans in prominent places around the ward and in the bathroom areas to reinforce staff and remind patients alertness of fall.