Year published: 2019
A physiotherapist assesses all patients on the day of, or day following, hip fracture surgery
This headline data is captured by the NHFD. We have created this audit tool for you to use to identify why you might not be achieving 100%.
A significant number of patients experience poorly controlled pain, delerium and hypotension after hip fracture surgery. A registered physiotherapist must assess the patient because these associated conditions require careful clinical management according to individual patient needs, but are not absolute contraindications to commencing rehabilitation after hip fracture surgery.
For poorly controlled pain, as part of team working, we expect prescribing physiotherapists to review a patient’s pain medication to ensure they can mobilise within 24 hours. We expect non-prescribing physiotherapists to refer the patient for medical review of their medication to ensure the patient can mobilise within 24 hours. We also expect a physiotherapist to undertake the 4AT test to ensure prompt identification and management of delirium. We expect a registered physiotherapist to review each patient that does not mobilise within 24 hours.