Contents
1 Aim
Provision of suitable mobility aids is key in the prevention and management of falls. Patients admitted into hospital should have access to a suitable walking aid to enable them to maintain their safety and independence within an inpatient setting (RCP, 2010). This procedure details the training implications for colleagues in the provision of suitable walking aids.
2 Scope
This is a trust wide procedure which is applicable to all patients under our care. It focuses in particularly on the needs of those patients who are in the higher falls risk groups or who already have a history of falls (over 65’s and, or patients with pre-existing health conditions which means they are at a higher risk of falling).
3 Link to overarching policy, and or procedure
4 Procedure or implementation
The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) National Falls and Bone Health Audit 2010 required organisations to ensure that walking aids are available for issue to patients within inpatient areas 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Walking aid training will be provided on an individual basis on inpatient wards and community services by the therapy colleagues and falls leads as required to enable this standard to be met.
The training will provide education and guidance to enable inpatient colleagues to issue a walking stick, crutches or wheeled zimmer frame temporarily to patients until a full physiotherapy assessment can be completed.
Inpatient colleagues who issue walking aids independently must be supported by their manager to attend the required training and any required updates in a timely manner. Colleagues competence in the issue of walking aids will be assessed and monitored by the Physiotherapy team working within the specific inpatient area.
Please note the principles of the training package are applicable to the community setting too so long as competency can be assured for those who have completed the training package.
4 Training
The purpose of the walking aid training is to enable MDT colleagues, to assess for, supply, and ensure the safe use of walking aids in circumstances when a physiotherapist is not available.
The walking aids that are covered in the training are:
- wheeled zimmer frame
- walking stick (metal adjustable)
- crutches (metal adjustable)
A Physiotherapist would need to lead the assessment of other walking aids not included in this list.
Examples where these walking aids might be indicated are for a patient who:
- has arrived from home without their current walking aid
- has balance problems (unsteady on their feet)
- rely on furniture to support them whilst mobilising
- cannot mobilise without assistance of colleagues
- has decreased confidence in their ability to mobilise
- has a fear of falling
- has a history of falls
It is advised that at the earliest opportunity the physiotherapist should be informed of the equipment issued so that they can make a more in-depth assessment of the situation and identify the patient’s mobility needs.
This training is not a substitute for an in-depth physiotherapy assessment. Its purpose is to enable any member of the team to feel confident that they can solve an immediate situation by making the patient safe using the walking aids described when a physiotherapist is not available.
Note, this generic training is not being implemented on the neuro rehabilitation inpatient ward as all admissions are planned and all patients will have a comprehensive physiotherapy assessment as part of their admission (admissions are Monday to Friday only).
6 References
Document control
- Version: 1.
- Unique reference number: 1052.
- Approved by: Clinical policy review and approval group.
- Date approved: 1 August 2023.
- Name of originator or author: Clinical team leader.
- Name of responsible individual: Executive director of nursing and AHP’s.
- Date issued: 11 August 2023.
- Review date: 31 August 2026.
- Target audience: Clinical staff.
- Description of change: Procedure to a manual.
Page last reviewed: April 23, 2024
Next review due: April 23, 2025