FAST-TRACKING OF PATIENTS WITH NECK OF FEMUR FRACTURE FROM ACCIDENT & EMERGENCY: IS THIS SAFE?

Frail patients with neck of femur fracture often present to Accident & Emergency (AE 4 patients did not have neck of femur fracture, but did have other medical problems. On arrival to the ward, 8 patients demonstrated abnormal symptoms, signs and vital observations requiring immediate review from the receiving physicians. For the 56 patients, a total of 448 mandatory points of protocol (e.g. intravenous access) should have been addressed prior to transfer; 150 were omitted (33.5%). Vital observations of patients fast-tracked af...