Minister meets award-winning falls prevention nurse

Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford will meet an award-winning nurse in Llanidloes to learn more about her work preventing older people from falling.

Veronica Jarman is a day hospital sister at Llanidloes War Memorial Hospital.  In 2014 she won the RCN Wales Nurse of the Year Award for her work to prevent falls among older people and to reduce hospital admissions.

Veronica has developed the day hospital as a central hub which provides a range of services for older people, including assessing frailty and helping older people retain their independence and non-clinical activities to tackle social isolation.

Older people make up more than 95% of the day hospital’s patients and Veronica’s team has played a significant role in helping older people to avoid hospital stays.

Professor Drakeford will also meet local patients and staff to discuss their experiences, care for older people and falls prevention.

He said:

“Veronica and her team have made the day hospital a centre for services for older people. The nursing team works with a range of health and social care professionals to help older people who are frail, managing chronic conditions and dealing with loneliness.

“Falls can quickly cause people to become fearful in their daily lives, as well as causing injury and distress. Preventing them can help to ensure people can live their lives to the full, as well as reducing admissions to hospital.

“By bringing all these services together in one place for the older people who need them and also offering support in the community, Veronica and her team are helping people in the Llanidloes area enjoy a healthy old age.”