A Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial to Evaluate a Policy of Making Hip Protectors Available to Residents of Nursing Homes

Objectives: to evaluate the effectiveness of a policy of making hip protectors available to residents of nursing homes. Design: a cluster randomised controlled trial of the policy in nursing and residential homes, with the home as the unit of randomisation. Setting: 127 nursing and residential homes in the greater Belfast area of Northern Ireland. Participants: 40 homes in the intervention group (representing 1,366 occupied beds) and 87 homes in the control group (representing 2,751 occupied beds). Interventions: a policy of making hip protectors available free of charge to residents of nursing homes and supporting the implementation process by employing a nurse facilitator to encourage staff in the homes to promote their use, over a 72-week period. Main outcome measures: the rate of hip fractures in intervention and control homes, and the level of adherence to use of hip protectors. Results: there were 85 hip fractures in the intervention homes and 163 in the control homes. The mean fracture rate per 100 residents was 6.22 in the intervention homes and 5.92 in the control homes, giving an adjusted rate ratio for the intervention group compared to the control group of 1.05 (95% CI 0.77, 1.43, P = 0.76). Initial acceptance of the hip protectors was 37.2% (508/1,366) with adherence falling to 19.9% (272/1,366) at 72 weeks.Conclusions: making hip protectors available to residents of nursing and residential homes did not reduce the rate of hip fracture. This research does not support the introduction of a policy of providing hip protectors to residents of nursing homes.

Personal and Public Involvement (PPI) - Consultation Scheme

The Chief Executive is accountable to the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety for the performance of the Public Health Agency and its staff.The Chief Executive is required to appoint a senior professional at Board level to provide leadership in relation to Personal Public Involvement.� In the Public Health Agency this role is undertaken by the Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professions supported by the Assistant Director for Allied Health Professions and Personal Public Involvement. The Public Health Agency has also appointed a Regional Lead Officer for PPI.This document sets out the PHA's commitment to PPI and�recognises the importance of proper and timely consultation as an integral part of fulfilling its statutory obligation to make arrangements with a view to securing involvement and consultation with service users, their carers, the public and the Patient Client Council on decisions on planning and proposals for change affecting the provision of the health and social care services for which the PHA is responsible the�PHA will endeavour to conduct consultations in a timely, open and inclusive way.

Northern Ireland Prevalence Survey of Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Use in Long Term Care Facilities

The Northern Ireland Prevalence Survey of Healthcare-Associated Infections and Antimicrobial Use in Long Term Care Facilities, also known as the 'HALT' survey was conducted as part of the 2013 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) European HALT survey.In May 2013, 42 Northern Ireland long-term care facilities (nursing and residential homes) participated in a European point prevalence survey of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use. Thirty-one privately owned nursing homes and 11 HSC Trust-controlled residential homes took part.The report and results have highlighted priority areas for future interventions to prevent and control HCAI, antimicrobial stewardship and future local and national prevalence surveys in long-term care facilities. The 2013 European report was published on 5th May 2014.

A Strategy for Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting in NI (PDF 180KB)

This study was designed to examine critically the impact of a government-led policy document upon community nursing, midwifery and health visiting practice in Northern Ireland (Strategy for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting in Northern Ireland. Action Plan for Community Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors, Working Together: A Focus on Health and Social Well-being, DHSS, 1996). The total number of participants was (n=409) and the eleven Health and Personal Social Services Trusts in NI were represented in the sample group which consisted of 93% females and 7% males. A questionnaire containing twenty items was designed and a pilot study was carried out with twenty-five community practitioners. Following the pilot study appropriate modifications were made to the questionnaire. åÊ

Appendices for Complex Needs - The Nursing Response to Children and Young People with Complex Physical Healthcare Needs (PDF 708 KB)

Appendices to Complex Needs Report

Complex Needs - The Nursing Response to Children and Young People with Complex Physical Healthcare Needs (PDF 832 KB)

Departmental review of nursing services in order to ensure that they are facilitated to fully support and respond to children with complex needs and their families, and for them to work in partnership with other professions and agencies.

Development of Public Health Nursing within Public Health Nursing in the Poleglass Twinbrook and Lagmore Areas of Down Lisburn Trust (PDF 424 KB)

Project evaluation report on the development of public health nursing within children's services in areas of Down Lisburn Trust. Part of the Department's redesign of community nursing project

Cost of Residential and Nursing Care - Volume 1

Cost of Residential and Nursing Care - Volume 1

Cost of Residential and Nursing Care - Volume 2

Cost of Residential and Nursing Care - Volume 2

Community Health Nursing: Current Practice and Possible Futures (PDF 298 KB)

Community Health Nursing: Current Practice and Possible Futures

Accident and Emergency Nursing (PDF 74KB)

A Contribution to the Future

Nutritional guidelines and menu checklist for residential and nursing homes

Care home residents should receive a varied diet that meets their nutritional needs in appropriate surroundings.This booklet ensures residential and nursing home managers and care providers have access to guidelines that help them achieve the aims set out by the Regulation and Quality Improvement Authority (RQIA), ie.�empowerment of, and positive engagement with, residents in all aspects of their care, including nutrition.It also provides practical nutrition advice and menu guidance.