April Lochhead - Falls in the community

April talks us through falls in the community, how we can treat and refer these patients ensuring the right care at the time in the right place 

Top 3 tips: 

1. Always establish a patient's baseline and compare this to their presenting complaint for realistic assessment 

1. Consider potential detrimental impacts to patients with an unnecessary ED admission 

1. Engage with local falls pathways and use Prof to Prof links. 

 

Biography: 

April has 31 years of clinical background in NHS Scotland. April is a a trained Occupational Therapist and has worked in a variety of areas.  Starting off in mental health then in-patients, stroke and care of the elderly and laterally her career has been in the evolution of discharge teams to community care and then with Health and Social care partnership Greater Glasgow and Clyde. 

Her interest in frontline services started with a specialist role in trauma orthpaedics , addressing supported discharge and admission avoidance.  This work developed into A&E patient assessment, intermediate care and projects with the Scottish Ambulance Service. 

April is presently with The Scottish Ambulance Service on a 2 year secondment and believes that she is the first Occupational Therapist within the service.  It is her hope to establish a sustainable model to support patients and crews to utilise and embrace all components of health and social care that can provide best outcomes to patients who present to the ambulance teams with falls and frailty.  

April is passionate about patients having the right care at the right place with informed choice, and embracing new and innovative options and models of practice.