This role involves supporting the identification and management of individuals over 50 who have experienced a fragility fracture. Fragility fractures are often the first sign of osteoporosis and typically result from minor falls. They represent a significant healthcare cost, with predictions indicating a sharp increase in fracture numbers across Europe by 2030. The FLS aims to systematically identify and manage all eligible patients in the Bedfordshire area to reduce their risk of subsequent fractures.
• Conduct specialist bone health assessments and develop, implement and evaluate care plans.
• Provide expert advice on fracture prevention and osteoporosis to patients, families, and carers.
• Assess falls risks for patients and offer guidance on prevention and management strategies.
• Work autonomously, taking responsibility for your practice and being accountable for the care delivered.
• Support the clinical lead in developing and delivering high-quality, evidence-based services.
• Provide specialist osteoporosis education and training to various audiences.
• Contribute to the development of the fracture liaison service through audit, meetings, protocols and training.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.
Our Values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
· Case-finding with an aim to assess all patients with new fragility fracture presentation at any skeletal site. This would include the following groups of patients:
1. Inpatients on acute orthopaedic/trauma wards
2. Inpatients on general medical or elderly care wards not requiring surgical fixation
3. Those presenting acutely and not requiring hospital admission but managed as outpatients via orthopaedic fracture clinic or emergency department
4. New spine fractures identified on radiology reports (incidental or anticipated)
5. New fractures as a result of a fall during hospitalisation for other reasons
6. Patients have a CT or other scan where a fragility fracture might be detected opportunistically
7. Case finding from primary care to identify patients with a previous fracture that hasn’t been investigated to identify an undiagnosed underlying condition.
Ensure patients are assessed shortly after fracture occurs to ensure clinical risk factors and secondary causes of fracture are identified using a validated fracture risk assessment tool .
· Ensure that patients who sustain a fragility fracture receive secondary bone health assessments and interventions
· Ensure that patients who sustain a fragility fracture receive a comprehensive falls assessment and if necessary onward referral to an appropriate specialist service.
· Ensure that patients receive appropriate care following a fracture in order to obtain optimum benefit from the treatment
· Deliver best practice in a cost effective way through a locally agreed pathway
This advert closes on Friday 27 Dec 2024