Hospital falls drop after caffeine cuts

DITCHING caffeine when you are in hospital could cut the risk of having a fall by half, according to a pilot study in Northumberland and North Tyneside.

- 

Health bosses at the Northumbria Healthcare NHS Trust have trialled encouraging patients to take a decaffeinated cup of tea or coffee rather than their usual brew when the drinks trolley comes around.

Over two trials in the past 15 months which have taken place at wards including elderly care wards, the results have been “exciting” one expert said.

That is because on some of those wards a 50% drop in the number of patient falls while heading to the loo was seen.