Irish Hip Fracture Database National Report 2024

Irish Hip Fracture Database National Report 2024 Image

With data coverage at 95% (4294 cases) from 16 hospitals, the report highlights progress in improving the outcomes and quality of care for older adults following a hip fracture, which is a life-changing injury for Ireland's ageing population. In 2024, five of the seven Irish Hip Fracture Standards (IHFS) saw continued improvement from 2023.

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Key Findings

During 2024, five of the Irish Hip Fracture Standards continued to improve. The most notable improvement was seen in timely admission from the emergency department, with 36% of patients admitted to a ward or theatre within four hours - a seven-point improvement on 2023. The report recommends a renewed focus on pressure ulcer prevention and education. Following a very stable period of 3% per year for 6 years, the rate has increased to 4% in the last two years. Other key areas of focus for the future include nutritional and delirium screening.

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Key Recommendations

  • We recommend that hospital managers support their staff to improve education around risk-assessment, prevention, identification and review of pressure ulcers in patients with hip fracture.

  • We recommend that hospital managers support their staff to continue or to begin to record follow-up data after hip fracture as part of routine care processes.

  • The National Office of Clinical Audit (NOCA) should explore whether combining Irish Hip Fracture Standards (IHFS) 4–6 would appropriately measure best practice orthogeriatric care.

Key Commitments from NOCA

  • Continue to support hospitals to improve data completeness and quality, with a focus on reasons for delay to ward transfer or surgery.

  • Reviewing coverage of fields added in 2025 and supporting the addition of new variables to record pre-operative anticoagulant/anti-platelet, surgical antibiotic prophylaxis and implant type.

  • Focus on delirium and cognitive impairment through the HipCog Study.

  • Continue to promote newly developed education materials for patients and healthcare professionals.

  • Continue engagement with patient and public partner groups, including Sage Advocacy and Age & Opportunity.

  • Engage with the feasibility study for a national rehabilitation audit which is ongoing in NOCA in 2025–2026.

  • Continue to facilitate quality improvement across hospitals, sharing information on good practice.

  • Continue to acknowledge that 100% compliance with IHFS 7 is not expected.

  • Work with the IHFD network of dietitians to improve nutritional assessment.