Hip fractures are a major public health issue due to an ever increasing ageing population (80 is the average age of a person who has a hip fracture). Around 70,000-75,000 hip fractures occur in the UK each year. Hip fractures are more common in women due to the higher incidence of osteoporosis 1. Delaying the administration of analgesia can cause the patients to prolonged pain and discomfort, and subsequently have a knock on effect on the timing of the patient’s journey through the emergency department and subsequent transfer to the orthopaedic department.
AIM: 90% of patients with a hip fracture will receive analgesia and the ortho ward notified within 30 minutes of arrival at A&E. 90% of patients will also receive an x-ray within 60 minutes of arrival at A&E.
