19 Aug 2011

Hip fractures reaching 'epidemic' proportions

Hip fractures reaching 'epidemic' proportions
Consultant Surgeon Tim Chesser and elderly care specialist Professor Cameron Swift warn the number of hip fracture cases in the UK are set to rise.
The warning comes as a Government watchdog revealed that the NHS is treating elderly patients with broken hips as a "low priority" by failing to give them prompt and high-quality treatment that could extend their lives.

Half of those with hip fractures currently have to wait 36 hours in hospital, in pain and in fear, before undergoing surgery and in many cases junior doctors carry out their operations rather than more experienced staff, it is claimed.

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