Scottish Hip Fracture Audit
Reporting on 2021

About this release

This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) provides information from the Scottish Hip Fracture Audit (SHFA) on patients with a hip fracture from January 2021 to December 2021.

Main points

• Patients spent longer in the emergency department (ED) in 2021. Of every 10 patients,
  6 were admitted within 4 hours of arrival, down from 8 in 10 in 2020.
• In 2021, 48% of patients received the full 'Big Six' ED bundle of care; this is a slight increase from 46% in 2020.
• Patients receiving all elements of the inpatient care bundle within 24 hours of admission decreased from 62% in 2020 to 57% in 2021.
• A comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) was started within 3 days of admission for 88% of eligible patients in 2021; this is an increase from 83% in 2020.
• In 2021, 72% of eligible patients had their hip surgically repaired within 36 hours, a slight increase from 71% in 2020.
• In 2021, 72% of patients were mobilised by the end of their first day after surgery; this is a slight increase from 71% in 2020.
• Completion of a bone health assessment within 60 days has increased from 92% in 2020 to 94% in 2021.
• The percentage of patients who were discharged back home within 30 days dropped from 62% in 2020 to 60% in 2021.

Bar chart with overlaying shapes, showing the percentage attainment for each of the Scottish standards of hip fracture care nationally for 2021 (bars) compared to 2017-2020 (shapes).

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SHFA standards 2021

Background

People who suffer from a hip fracture are usually frail and elderly and at risk of complications from surgery and/or the injury. This can be associated with increased length of stay in hospital, admission to care homes, and mortality.

The Scottish Hip Fracture Audit reports on compliance with the Scottish Standards of Care for People with Hip Fractures. The results support the collaborative work between the Scottish Government, PHS and Health Boards to continually drive improvements in care for this group of people.

Data are collected by local audit coordinators based in each hospital and submitted to PHS for analysis and report production.

Further Information

The next release of this publication will be August 2023.