§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many people experienced bone fractures while being cared for in NHS hospitals in each of the last five years; and how many of the injured persons died while still in hospital. [93100]
§ Mr. LammyThe Department does not collect this information centrally. In-patient central records monitor why a patient has entered a hospital, but do not necessarily record subsequent changes to the reason they are being cared for in hospital.
891WHowever, the Government are concerned about national health service patients affected by adverse events, including bone fractures. It established the National Patient Safety Agency in July 2001 to improve the safety of NHS patient care by promoting an open and fair culture and by introducing a national reporting and learning system for adverse events. It is planned for the system to be rolled out across the NHS from summer 2003. The reporting and learning system will, in time, enable us to understand the nature and extent of adverse events in the NHS, including bone fractures and take action to prevent them being repeated.
In addition, the national service framework for older people requires the NHS to take action to prevent falls and reduce resultant fractures or other injuries to older people.