Two types of equipment that will help elderly patients falling have been selected to be used at Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

The King's Lynn hospital has carried out trials of falls prevention kit, selecting two preferred types in the process, and now hopes the public can help fund the equipment as part of its Excel Appeal.

The appeal, supported by the EDP, aims to raise £50,000 to buy three types of specialist equipment which would vastly improve the care of elderly patients.

Alison Webb, lead nurse for older people and liaison services, said the hospital needs around 20 pieces of Sensorcare and Tabs kit, which can make a huge difference to nurses stopping elderly patients from falling.

'Sensorcare is resuable and Tabs is disposable so we have selected kits which suit both long-stay patients, and those who might not be at hospital very long,' Mrs Webb said.

'Reducing falls is an important strategy for the hospital and we have funded the new role of falls prevention co-ordinator since March to raise the profile of falls prevention.'

By placing a small sensor beneath a patient's bed-mattress or cushion of a chair, nurses can be alerted to a person trying to get out of bed or chair.

They can then help the patient to ensure they avoid falling.

'If we can get these kits it will be so useful to nurses on wards.

'We really hope the public can help the appeal so that we can get more of this equipment.'

There were two falls resulting in serious harm at the hospital in February, the most recent available figures show.

Sponsorship and donation forms are available at www.qehkl.nhs.uk/fundraising.

To donate, visit www.justgiving.com/qehkl-excelappeal or pay by cheque to 'Excel Appeal' and send to Laurence Morlaàs, fundraising executive, QEH, Gayton Road, King's Lynn PE30 4ET.

Are you fundraising? Email nicholas.carding@archant.co.uk