RJAH switches to decaf in bid to reduce patient falls

Shropshire's specialist orthopaedic hospital will be switching to decaffeinated drinks across all inpatient areas – as part of efforts to reduce the risk of falls and improve patient wellbeing.

The change coincides with Falls Awareness Week, which starts on Monday 22 September, when The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital will be raising awareness about falls and injury prevention among patients, staff and visitors. 

Caffeine, commonly found in tea and coffee, can irritate the bladder, leading to urgent and frequent visits to the toilet – a known risk factor for falls, particularly among older adults. 

The switch will see decaffeinated drinks become the default option of hot drinks across wards, though patients will still be able to request caffeinated options if they wish.

Linda Head, Falls Prevention and Management Lead, said: “Caffeine can increase urinary urgency and frequency, particularly in older adults, which in turn can raise the risk of falls.

“We know that even a small change can have a big impact when it comes to falls prevention and switching to decaf as the standard option is a proactive, evidence-based step that supports patient safety.”

The change follows a Taste the Difference challenge at the Oswestry-based hospital where staff, patients and visitors were invited to test their taste buds and explore the advantages of decaffeinated beverages, as well as educating on caffeine’s role in increasing the risk of falls.

A total of 65% of patients who took part said they were happy to make the switch to decaffeinated after learning more about the potential health benefits of doing so. 

Linda added: “We were grateful to everyone who took part in the Taste the Difference challenge and gave us such valuable feedback prior to switching to decaffeinated options.”

The initiative is also being supported by the hospital’s League of Friends, who will be offering decaffeinated options more prominently in their onsite coffee shops, to reinforce the Trust’s message and raise wider awareness.

Kirsty Foskett, Assistant Chief Nurse and Patient Safety Officer, said: “Preventing falls is one of our key patient safety priorities, and we’re always looking at new ways to support this.

“Decaf by default is a simple change that can reduce toileting-related falls and promote better rest and hydration. It’s great to see our teams and patients embracing it.”