Latest news with #ClinicalFrailtyScale
Epoch Times
28-05-2025
- Health
- Epoch Times
Majority of Hospitals Not Routinely Screening Older Patients for Frailty, Report Suggests
Analysis led by the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) suggests that the majority of hospitals are not routinely screening older surgery patients for frailty, despite them being at greater risk for complications. In its report This is based off data from 7,134 patients across 263 NHS hospitals collected over five consecutive days in March 2022. Frailty is a medical condition affecting older adults that can lead to fatigue, weakness, and slower movement. It may also involve muscle loss and unintentional weight loss. Individuals with frailty may require assistance with daily activities. The study, conducted in partnership with the University of Nottingham, said that one in five (19.6 percent) surgical patients over 60 have frailty, but many patients are unaware they have the condition or how it can impact their recovery. Increased Risks The report highlights the risks associated for surgical patients with frailty. These include staying in hospital on average three days longer, with that figure increasing to six days for those with more severe forms of the condition. They were also three times more likely to have complications post-surgery, and four times more likely to have delirium, which is a condition causing confusion. Related Stories 5/6/2025 5/15/2025 Patients with frailty were also three times more likely to die within one year of surgery. Report authors noted that better screening can help health care professionals prepare individual treatment options and ensure patients have the right support, which improves recovery. It also allows for doctors to have conversations with patients about the likelihood of survival and the chance of them regaining independence post operation. Frailty can be detected with a straightforward tool called the Clinical Frailty Scale, and clinicians are calling for all surgical patients over 60 to be screened using it. Implementing Effective Screening Dr. Claire Shannon, president of the RCoA, highlighted that as the population ages, older people are accounting for an increasing proportion of surgical patients, so 'implementing effective screening for frailty is becoming ever more necessary.' 'Universal adoption of frailty assessments will not only help patients recover better from surgery but also help improve efficiency by avoiding extended lengths of stay in hospital,' she said. A general view of staff on a NHS hospital ward at Ealing Hospital in London, on Jan. 18, 2023. PA Wire/PA Images Professor Iain Moppett from the School of Medicine at the University of Nottingham said that the study 'highlighted just how common frailty is in older people having surgery.' He added that screening, combined with good teamwork between the right specialists, such as surgeons, anaesthetists, and geriatricians, 'helps to get patients living with frailty as fit and well as possible before surgery, making the right decisions and get the best care after surgery.' Responding to the RCoA's report, an NHS spokesperson told The Epoch Times: 'Assessing frailty is essential in helping to get older patients as fit and well as possible before, during, and after surgery and the NHS elective care plan reinforces this. 'The NHS continues work to support efforts to change the way care is given to relieve the pressure on hospitals and adapt to the increasing demands of an ageing population.' Elder Care in A&E Older patients often have complex needs in health care settings, which can be worsened by difficulties in delivering timely and appropriate care. This was The RCEM said that for patients over the age of 75, there was insufficient screening in emergency rooms for common conditions that affect seniors, including for delirium, general frailty, or the risk of falling. Speaking at the time, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting said, 'Anyone being stuck in A&E for that length of time is unacceptable, but for people who spent their lives paying into the NHS and giving to our country it is particularly appalling.' The minister said that is why the government is working to improve the NHS, adding that since Labour came to power in July 2024, the government has cut NHS waiting lists and made available more than 2 million additional appointments. The government is currently developing its The Labour administration has also
Belfast Telegraph
27-05-2025
- Health
- Belfast Telegraph
Frailty of older patients ‘not being assessed in majority of hospitals'
Frail people are more likely to stay longer in hospital after an operation and are at greater risk of complications, researchers warned. Experts have called for all surgical patients over 60 to be screened for frailty as standard practice to bolster recovery and slash extended stays in hospitals. Frailty is a medical condition that is common in older people, with symptoms such as reduced muscle strength, fatigue, slower walking pace, lower activity levels, weight loss and increased vulnerability. Clinicians can assess how frail a patient is by using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), which gives a score based on factors such as walking ability and managing daily tasks. A score of more than five indicates the patient should be referred for specialist care. The analysis, led by the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) and the University of Nottingham and published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, includes data from 7,129 patients. It was collected over five days in March 2022 from across 214 NHS hospitals. It found 71% of hospitals were not routinely screening surgical patients aged 60 and over for frailty. The research also highlighted the risks associated with frailty. Patients with the condition stay an average of three days longer in hospital after an operation, with severely frail people staying six days longer, and are three times more likely to have complications. Frail patients are also four times more likely to experience delirium, a condition that causes confusion, and are also three times more likely to die in the first year after surgery. Professor Iain Moppett, from the University of Nottingham's School of Medicine and chief investigator for the RCoA's third Sprint National Anaesthesia Project (SNAP3), said: 'Identifying frailty is straightforward and should lead to open and honest discussions with patients about what can be offered, what they want and what they can expect if they choose to have surgery. 'Good teamwork between the right specialists – surgeons, anaesthetists and geriatricians – helps to get patients living with frailty as fit and well as possible before surgery, make the right decisions and get the best care after surgery.' RCoA president Dr Claire Shannon said: 'There is huge potential to improve patient outcomes by assessing all those over 60 for frailty as standard practice so that their care can be managed appropriately, with involvement from a geriatrician. 'With older people accounting for an increasing proportion of surgical patients, implementing effective screening for frailty is becoming ever more necessary. 'Universal adoption of frailty assessments will not only help patients recover better from surgery but also help improve efficiency by avoiding extended lengths of stay in hospital.' An NHS spokesperson said: 'Assessing frailty is essential in helping to get older patients as fit and well as possible before, during and after surgery and the NHS elective care plan reinforces this. 'The NHS continues work to support efforts to change the way care is given to relieve the pressure on hospitals and adapt to the increasing demands of an ageing population.'
Leader Live
27-05-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Frailty of older patients ‘not being assessed in majority of hospitals'
Frail people are more likely to stay longer in hospital after an operation and are at greater risk of complications, researchers warned. Experts have called for all surgical patients over 60 to be screened for frailty as standard practice to bolster recovery and slash extended stays in hospitals. Frailty is a medical condition that is common in older people, with symptoms such as reduced muscle strength, fatigue, slower walking pace, lower activity levels, weight loss and increased vulnerability. Clinicians can assess how frail a patient is by using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), which gives a score based on factors such as walking ability and managing daily tasks. A score of more than five indicates the patient should be referred for specialist care. The analysis, led by the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) and the University of Nottingham and published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, includes data from 7,129 patients. It was collected over five days in March 2022 from across 214 NHS hospitals. It found 71% of hospitals were not routinely screening surgical patients aged 60 and over for frailty. The research also highlighted the risks associated with frailty. Patients with the condition stay an average of three days longer in hospital after an operation, with severely frail people staying six days longer, and are three times more likely to have complications. Frail patients are also four times more likely to experience delirium, a condition that causes confusion, and are also three times more likely to die in the first year after surgery. Professor Iain Moppett, from the University of Nottingham's School of Medicine and chief investigator for the RCoA's third Sprint National Anaesthesia Project (SNAP3), said: 'Identifying frailty is straightforward and should lead to open and honest discussions with patients about what can be offered, what they want and what they can expect if they choose to have surgery. 'Good teamwork between the right specialists – surgeons, anaesthetists and geriatricians – helps to get patients living with frailty as fit and well as possible before surgery, make the right decisions and get the best care after surgery.' RCoA president Dr Claire Shannon said: 'There is huge potential to improve patient outcomes by assessing all those over 60 for frailty as standard practice so that their care can be managed appropriately, with involvement from a geriatrician. 'With older people accounting for an increasing proportion of surgical patients, implementing effective screening for frailty is becoming ever more necessary. 'Universal adoption of frailty assessments will not only help patients recover better from surgery but also help improve efficiency by avoiding extended lengths of stay in hospital.' An NHS spokesperson said: 'Assessing frailty is essential in helping to get older patients as fit and well as possible before, during and after surgery and the NHS elective care plan reinforces this. 'The NHS continues work to support efforts to change the way care is given to relieve the pressure on hospitals and adapt to the increasing demands of an ageing population.'
North Wales Chronicle
27-05-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Frailty of older patients ‘not being assessed in majority of hospitals'
Frail people are more likely to stay longer in hospital after an operation and are at greater risk of complications, researchers warned. Experts have called for all surgical patients over 60 to be screened for frailty as standard practice to bolster recovery and slash extended stays in hospitals. Frailty is a medical condition that is common in older people, with symptoms such as reduced muscle strength, fatigue, slower walking pace, lower activity levels, weight loss and increased vulnerability. Clinicians can assess how frail a patient is by using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), which gives a score based on factors such as walking ability and managing daily tasks. A score of more than five indicates the patient should be referred for specialist care. The analysis, led by the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) and the University of Nottingham and published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, includes data from 7,129 patients. It was collected over five days in March 2022 from across 214 NHS hospitals. It found 71% of hospitals were not routinely screening surgical patients aged 60 and over for frailty. The research also highlighted the risks associated with frailty. Patients with the condition stay an average of three days longer in hospital after an operation, with severely frail people staying six days longer, and are three times more likely to have complications. Frail patients are also four times more likely to experience delirium, a condition that causes confusion, and are also three times more likely to die in the first year after surgery. Professor Iain Moppett, from the University of Nottingham's School of Medicine and chief investigator for the RCoA's third Sprint National Anaesthesia Project (SNAP3), said: 'Identifying frailty is straightforward and should lead to open and honest discussions with patients about what can be offered, what they want and what they can expect if they choose to have surgery. 'Good teamwork between the right specialists – surgeons, anaesthetists and geriatricians – helps to get patients living with frailty as fit and well as possible before surgery, make the right decisions and get the best care after surgery.' RCoA president Dr Claire Shannon said: 'There is huge potential to improve patient outcomes by assessing all those over 60 for frailty as standard practice so that their care can be managed appropriately, with involvement from a geriatrician. 'With older people accounting for an increasing proportion of surgical patients, implementing effective screening for frailty is becoming ever more necessary. 'Universal adoption of frailty assessments will not only help patients recover better from surgery but also help improve efficiency by avoiding extended lengths of stay in hospital.' An NHS spokesperson said: 'Assessing frailty is essential in helping to get older patients as fit and well as possible before, during and after surgery and the NHS elective care plan reinforces this. 'The NHS continues work to support efforts to change the way care is given to relieve the pressure on hospitals and adapt to the increasing demands of an ageing population.'
Rhyl Journal
27-05-2025
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Frailty of older patients ‘not being assessed in majority of hospitals'
Frail people are more likely to stay longer in hospital after an operation and are at greater risk of complications, researchers warned. Experts have called for all surgical patients over 60 to be screened for frailty as standard practice to bolster recovery and slash extended stays in hospitals. Frailty is a medical condition that is common in older people, with symptoms such as reduced muscle strength, fatigue, slower walking pace, lower activity levels, weight loss and increased vulnerability. Clinicians can assess how frail a patient is by using the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), which gives a score based on factors such as walking ability and managing daily tasks. A score of more than five indicates the patient should be referred for specialist care. The analysis, led by the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) and the University of Nottingham and published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, includes data from 7,129 patients. It was collected over five days in March 2022 from across 214 NHS hospitals. It found 71% of hospitals were not routinely screening surgical patients aged 60 and over for frailty. The research also highlighted the risks associated with frailty. Patients with the condition stay an average of three days longer in hospital after an operation, with severely frail people staying six days longer, and are three times more likely to have complications. Frail patients are also four times more likely to experience delirium, a condition that causes confusion, and are also three times more likely to die in the first year after surgery. Professor Iain Moppett, from the University of Nottingham's School of Medicine and chief investigator for the RCoA's third Sprint National Anaesthesia Project (SNAP3), said: 'Identifying frailty is straightforward and should lead to open and honest discussions with patients about what can be offered, what they want and what they can expect if they choose to have surgery. 'Good teamwork between the right specialists – surgeons, anaesthetists and geriatricians – helps to get patients living with frailty as fit and well as possible before surgery, make the right decisions and get the best care after surgery.' RCoA president Dr Claire Shannon said: 'There is huge potential to improve patient outcomes by assessing all those over 60 for frailty as standard practice so that their care can be managed appropriately, with involvement from a geriatrician. 'With older people accounting for an increasing proportion of surgical patients, implementing effective screening for frailty is becoming ever more necessary. 'Universal adoption of frailty assessments will not only help patients recover better from surgery but also help improve efficiency by avoiding extended lengths of stay in hospital.' An NHS spokesperson said: 'Assessing frailty is essential in helping to get older patients as fit and well as possible before, during and after surgery and the NHS elective care plan reinforces this. 'The NHS continues work to support efforts to change the way care is given to relieve the pressure on hospitals and adapt to the increasing demands of an ageing population.'
