Keele University has launched a free electronic falls risk assessment toolkit.

Features of the toolkit include:

• Search criteria incorporating:
  • Read codes consistent with predictors of falls risk as recommended by NICE
  • High risk psychotropic medicines which can contribute to falls
• Identification of patients over the age of 65 who may benefit from a medication review, falls assessment and signposting to local falls prevention services
• Prompt background alerts to systematically identify at risk patients.

In tests the toolkit, developed by Walsall CCG in partnership with the university, was estimated to identify about 300 at-risk patients in a CCG of around 280,000 patients. It is fully compatible with the EMIS Web clinical system and available to download from www.fallsrisk.co.uk.

Bharat Patel, who was head of medicines management and primary care at Walsall CCG when he helped to develop the toolkit, said: “In practice, the whole healthcare team can proactively implement a review process whereby vulnerable patients can be identified, receive appropriate care and thus reduce their risk of falling.”