Clayponds Hospital Sees Big Reduction in Patient Falls
Down by three quarters following redesign of ward routines
The falls team at Clayponds Hospital
February 4, 2026
A rehabilitation ward at Clayponds Hospital, part of West London NHS Trust, has reduced patient falls by almost three-quarters after overhauling everyday care processes using a structured quality-improvement approach.
Falls are among the most frequently reported incidents in the NHS, particularly in rehabilitation settings where patients are encouraged to move independently as part of their recovery. Rather than restricting mobility, staff at Clayponds analysed incident reports to identify recurring risk patterns — with toilet and bathroom use emerging as a key factor — and focused on reducing avoidable hazards.
The team, at the facility on the border between Brentford and Ealing introduced a series of targeted interventions, including a safety checklist for toilet use, consistent use of falls-prevention equipment such as non-slip socks and HoverJack lifting devices, twice-daily reviews of staff-to-patient ratios, and strengthened five-step risk assessments. Each change was tested incrementally before being adopted as standard practice.
The ward had originally aimed for a modest 10% reduction in falls by April 2025. Instead, average monthly falls dropped from around four to two — a fall of nearly 75% — removing falls from the ward’s top incident category. Staff report fewer injuries, reduced follow-up care demands, lower stress levels and measurable cost avoidance, while patients say they feel safer without losing independence.
Christine Wendam, Service Manager at Clayponds Hospital, said, “Our priority is to have patients supported to recover as quickly as possible and nothing gets in the way of this.”
The project has now been selected for presentation at the International Forum on Quality and Safety in Healthcare in Oslo, highlighting its significance for rehabilitation services nationally and the potential for similar approaches to be adopted across the NHS.
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