Hip scheme could save 115 lives a year

HIP fracture patients are less likely to survive in Scotland than in England, say researchers.

Their study concluded that thousands of lives were saved after ‘excellence payments’ – rewarding hospitals for meeting high standards of care – were introduced south of the Border.

Experts predict at least 115 lives a year could be saved if the scheme were also introduced in Scotland.

Broken hips are most often caused by falls, which are common in older people with reduced mobility and vision. Surgery is usually the only treatment option.

The study, by Oxford and Yale universities, looked at 1.1million over-60s admitted to hospital with hip fractures in Scotland and England between 2010 – the start of the Best Practice Tariff (BPT) – and 2016.

Before BPT, mortality rates 30 days after surgery in Scotland and in England were both 9.8 per cent. However, the decline in mortality rates was more pronounced in England after the introduction of the scheme. England’s 30-day mortality rate fell to 6.8 per cent, compared to 8.5 per cent in Scotland.

Mortality rates one year after surgery declined from 32 per cent to 29.8 per cent in Scotland over the same time, but from 31.9 per cent to 27.8 per cent in England.

Dr David Metcalfe, of Oxford’s Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics and co-author of the study, said: ‘Our research suggests the BPT increased the proportion of patients receiving an operation within 36 hours and shortened the length of stay in hospital.’

Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative health spokesman, said: ‘The SNP must now seriously consider implementing a similar scheme.’

A Scottish Government spokesman said: ‘We are developing a national falls strategy, to provide a universal approach to preventing fractures and falls, which is currently out for consultation.’