Mind the Gap, the latest annual report from the National Hip Fracture Database (NHFD), part of the Falls and Fragility Fracture Audit (FFFAP), highlights persistent inequalities in hip fracture care across England, Wales, Jersey and Northern Ireland. It shows that where a patient is treated has a greater impact on outcomes than who they are or where they live. The report reveals a fivefold difference in 30-day mortality rates between the best and worst performing hospitals, underlining the need to reduce unwarranted variation in care.
A patient’s hospital has a greater influence on survival after hip fracture than their socioeconomic background, with a fivefold variation in mortality outcomes between the best and worst performing hospitals
Using data from more than 72,000 people who experience a hip fracture each year, the report explores how outcomes are influenced by who the patient is, what fracture they sustain, when it occurs, where they receive care, and why the fracture happened. Key findings highlight the importance of delirium screening, expanding quality improvement approaches to other fragility fractures, strengthening clinical governance, and improving access to Fracture Liaison Services to prevent future fractures. The report calls on national organisations, healthcare systems and providers to work together to deliver more equitable, high-quality care for all patients.
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