A HOSPITAL which treats more patients with broken hips than any other in England, has been recognised as one of the best in the country.

Poole Hospital sees more than 850 patients annually, many elderly and with other underlying medical problems that need sorting out before a major operation can take place.

However the National Hip Fracture Database audit, which compared 182 hospitals in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, found it had one of the lowest mortality rates in the country.

Almost 80 per cent of patients had surgery in the day of or day after admission, almost all were reviewed by a senior geriatric consultant within 72 hours of admission – with 80 per cent seen within 24 hours – and they spent on average just over 12 days in hospital, compared to a national average of nearly three weeks.

Three years ago Poole Hospital implemented an initiative where senior doctors specialising in elderly care became involved from admission to discharge.

This seven day a week service resulted in patients being seen and treated more quickly.

Consultant physician Dr Nick Perry said: “Surgical care is of course a vital component of the treatment older trauma patients receive, but with the focused support of consultants who specialise in medicine for the elderly, we can achieve the very best outcomes possible.

“Providing this service on a seven day a week basis means the medical needs of our patients are proactively managed, and we can look ahead to planning their discharge home from hospital.”

Patient Sylvia Potter suffered a fall at home on a Tuesday and was taken to the emergency department before being admitted to a trauma ward.

She was assessed within a couple of hours by a senior medical consultant and an orthopaedic surgeon and her surgery was booked for the following day. She was well enough to return home on Friday of the same week.

“I was so impressed,” said Mrs Potter. “It was incredible how quickly l was seen. I was x-rayed and settled up into the ward in mere hours. I can only say that I had excellent care. The staff were wonderful and always there before I needed them.”