Decaf reduces risk of hospital falls
The hospital trust is trialling decaffeinated drinks to reduce the risk of falls among older patients.
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.
The initiative started in Leicester where nursing staff noticed the number of falls associated with patients going to the toilet.
The subsequent introduction of decaffeinated drinks saw a 30% reduction in falls over a three-month period.
Falls are the most common cause of injury-related deaths in people over the age of 75.
The trust will be introducing the changes on a trial basis on four wards from September 1.