The RCP has launched a fundraising appeal to help our members and the health service manage the response and longer-term consequences of the COVID19 pandemic.
Every person who fractures their hip is different, so it’s not easy to predict when they’ll be well enough for discharge. A lot depends on how quickly they recover from surgery, their rehabilitation progress and their overall health.
The aim of surgery is to allow a patient to get up and put weight onto their hip straight away. After their operation, your loved one will have some pain and discomfort to start with and will feel weaker than usual. This is perfectly normal and should improve as they continue to recover.
The hospital team may tell the person you care for not to eat or drink – to be ‘nil by mouth’ during the hours immediately before their operation. This makes it safer when they receive an anaesthetic, but there is no need for them to go without food or drink before this time.
Is the person you care for talking or behaving strangely? Or are they unusually still and quiet? Then they could be suffering from a condition called ‘delirium’. This can seriously affect how well they recover, so please talk to staff as soon as possible if you’re concerned.
The immediate aftermath of hip fracture can be a time of shock and confusion for all those involved. The following steps aim to set out some clear actions that carers can take to support the initial stages of recovery.
