Minister Mary Butler, Minister of State for Mental Health & Older People, launched the Irish Hip Fracture Database (IHFD) National Report 2020 at the Irish Hip Fracture Meeting 2021. The 2020 report places a key focus on Being Active at Home. Due to COVID-19, many people were spending more time in their homes, resulting in reduced activity levels. A clear message is that keeping active throughout the day can help older adults to keep well physically, reducing the risk from harmful falls, and mentally by continuing to be part of their communities.

I am pleased to open the Irish Hip Fracture Meeting 2021 and to launch the Irish Hip Fracture Database National Report 2020. This is the 8th such National Report and its findings also provide information on prevention with key messages to help older people ‘Stay Safe at Home’ and ‘Be Active at Home’. As we are all aware, worldwide, hip fracture continues to be a serious and sometimes life changing injury sustained by older people. This can impact hugely on individuals and their families. Indeed, a hip fracture, which sounds like a straightforward medical issue, can actually significantly decrease people’s independence and affect their day-to-day lives. Transparency and regular reporting on the performance of our health service is important if services are to develop and improve. The report demonstrates that audit could and should be used as part of a quality improvement cycle, which is integral to the patient safety agenda, both nationally and at hospital level.

Minister Mary Butler, Minister of State for Mental Health & Older People

In 2020, despite the impact of COVID-19 on our health service, the IHFD collected data from all 16 acute hospitals on 99% (3,666) of patients aged 60 years or over who were hospitalised following a hip fracture. The consequences of this common, serious injury for the individual, society and our health system are significant. For individuals, a hip fracture affects mobility and function, where they live, and even their survival.

KEY FINDINGS

• Home continues to be the place patients are most likely to be admitted to hospital from with a hip fracture (85%).

• The average age of hip fracture patients is 81 years and over two-thirds (67%) are female.

• 33% of patients were admitted to an orthopaedic ward or went to theatre within four hours, an increase from 25% in 2019.

• 75% of surgeries were conducted within 48 hours and within normal working hours.

• 56% of patients received a nutritional risk assessment to identify risk of malnutrition.

• 82% of patients were reviewed by a Geriatrician in hospital.

• Prior to discharge, 85% of patients had a specialist falls assessment.

• 91% of patients had a bone health assessment.

• 78% of patients were mobilised by a physiotherapist on the day of or day after surgery.

• 28% of patients were discharged directly home from hospital following a hip fracture.