Patient safety incidents describing patient falls in critical care in North West England between 2009 and 2017.
Patient falls represent a serious source of preventable harm. The authors reviewed patient safety incidents in critical care units in England between 2009 and 2017 and found that a small proportion (2%) involved a fall. Common factors involved in fall incidents included patients attempting tasks without assistance, patient confusion, and staff being away from the patient. Harm to patient or staff occurred in 22% of falls.