In 1995 the Audit Commission published a report on co-ordinating care for elderly patients with hip fracture, United They Stand, which identified several problems.
This update examines the changes that have taken place between the audits in 1995 and a follow-up survey in 1999. There have been improvements in certain areas. But, while some trusts have made improvements, performance overall remains almost static and recommended best practice is not always followed.
Trusts should consult their auditors to compare their performance with other trusts and identify those areas most in need of improvement. They should analyse the reasons for any shortfalls in the level of service provided and implement policies to overcome them. Realistic, but challenging, targets should be set and performance against them regularly monitored.