Ealing Hospital is to introduce decaffeinated drinks for patients from 1 September 2024 as part of an initiative to reduce the risk of falls among older people.
In a statement, the hospital which is part of London Northwest University Healthcare Trust, said: “The switch to decaf is backed by evidence that caffeinated drinks make people go to the toilet more often which, in turn, puts older people at greater risk of falling. Falls are the most common cause of injury-related deaths in people over the age of 75.”
It added that it has been following an initiative in Leicester where nursing staff noticed the number of falls associated with patients going to the toilet and by introducing decaffeinated drinks a 30% reduction in falls was seen over a three-month period.
