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Abstract Aim Due to an ageing population the number of elderly patients undergoing surgery is increasing. The literature and NELA guidance has highlighted frailty can lead to increased risks related to surgery, quantified by Clinical frailty scoring. With the introduction of the regions first Perioperative care for Older People undergoing Surgery (POPS) service, we aim to determine if formal documentation of clinical frailty score improved awareness of these patients and impacted on clinical outcomes. Methods A 3 week note review was completed of all patients over 65 admitted to the acute surgical emergency unit. Frailty was scored using the Rockall Score. The first cycle was a review of current documentation practice, with a subsequent cycle of documentation of frailty score following interventions included; clinical posters in clinical areas, teaching and medical and nursing staff handover. Results At baseline zero patient had a Rockall Clinical frailty score CFS documented. There has been an increase in the number of patients 65 years old who have a frailty score documented within 24 hours of admission. 15/40 patients over 65 had a CFS documented improved by 37.8%. Conclusion Overall improvement of documentation and awareness has been demonstrated highlighting higher frailty patients and those for POPS review to improve perioperative outcomes.
Small et al. (Sun,) studied this question.