Patient falls on a rehabilitation ward at West London NHS Trust’s Clayponds Hospital have dropped by nearly 75% after staff redesigned everyday care processes, the trust has said.
Falls are among the most commonly reported incidents in NHS rehabilitation settings, where patients are encouraged to remain mobile to regain independence. Staff at Clayponds in south Ealing analysed incident reports to identify recurring risk factors, with toilet and bathroom use emerging as a significant issue. Rather than limiting movement, the team focused on reducing avoidable risks.
Measures introduced included a toilet safety checklist, consistent use of falls-prevention equipment such as non-slip socks, twice-daily reviews of staff-to-patient ratios, and strengthened five-step risk assessments. The changes were tested incrementally before being adopted as standard practice.
The ward initially aimed for a 10% reduction in falls by April 2025. Average monthly falls instead fell from around four to two, removing falls from the ward’s top incident category. The trust said the reduction had led to fewer injuries, lower demand for follow-up care, reduced staff stress and measurable cost savings, while patients reported feeling safer.
Christine Wendam, service manager at Clayponds Hospital, said: “Our priority is to have patients supported to recover as quickly as possible and nothing gets in the way of this.”
The project has been selected for presentation at the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare in Oslo.
