Teams across the Trust have been collecting certficates in recognition of their efforts to keep our patients safe and falls numbers down.

Here's 6B who collected a Rhodium certificate for 75 days without a fall between 13/10/2017 and 27/12/2017. And healthcare assistant Alvina Ali, we know it's you behind that certificate!!

The Trust keeps a weekly record of falls numbers in all areas of the Trust to help us tackle the issue and recognise areas of strength.  By measuring them we can identify where the areas of good practice are really making a difference for our patients.

Currently, the monthly figures can range anywhere between below 100 and up to 160. Last December when we were all under pressures, our figures were high as we had extra beds open both in our hospitals and in community settings.

Our lead matron for falls Janette Cockroft reckons whatever the pressures are we must try and stick to the principles of preventing falls.

She said: "It has been additionally manic yet the safety aspect must always be there. Even if we are stretched we need falls prevention embedded. Everyone on a ward has their role. The safety huddles are very important as is everyone else on the wards. They are all one team tackling falls. The domestics can also be our "eyes and ears" and can raise an alert if they suspect a patient is at risk."

She said most of our patients have some risk of falling due to a range of conditions such as frailty, delirium or the medications they are taking. "Anything which makes them less able than they usually are means they have a risk."

Identifying the risk early is key so a range of responses can be actioned. These include: 1:1 care for patients at highest risk; regular checks; keeping a patient distracted and focussed. This is important to help them have a better night's sleep and this is key especially on long-stay wards.

The NHS Improvement Academy issues certificates but these can take a while to process so CHFT has taken the lead and issued its own to award good performances.

Our other certificates have gone to: 

• 5C- Gold certificate for 30 days without a fall between 16/12/2017 and 15/01/2018. 
• 7BC- Gold certificate for 34 days without a fall between 12/11/2017 and 16/12/2017.
• MAU- Bronze certificate for 10 days without a fall between 11/12/2017 and 22/12/2017.
• 3 HRI- Bronze certificate for 13 days without a fall between 13/11/2017 and 04/12/2017.
• SAU- Silver certificate for 28 days without a fall between 21/11/2017 and 19/12/2017.
• 12 HRI- Gold certificate for 36 days without a fall between 03/11/2017 and 09/12/2017.
• 19 HRI- Silver certificate for 24 days without a fall between 27/12/2017 and 07/01/2018.
• 22 HRI- Ruby certificate for 44 days without a fall between 26/11/2017 and 09/01/2018.