Friday, 6 October 2017: The work of Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) Professor Jacqueline Close was last night honoured with the Health Services Research Award at Research Australia’s annual Health and Medical Research Awards. The Australian and New Zealand Hip Fracture Registry based at NeuRA, released its 2017 report last month which highlighted the current care provided to older Australians and New Zealanders who break their hip.
The cost of treating hip fractures in Australia is estimated to be over $900million per year; yet one in 20 older hip fracture patients will die before they leave hospital and more than half are still unable to walk after 12 months.
Co-Chairs of the ANZ Hip Fracture Registry, Professors Jacqueline Close and Professor Ian Harris are working to change this. By collecting and analysing more than 12,000 records from patients in Australia and New Zealand they are helping develop strategies to prevent hip fractures and to improve the recovery of patients when they do happen. And it is making a difference, changing the treatment patients receive.
Professor Close, who accepted the award on behalf of the ANZ Hip Fracture Registry said the award recognised the hard work of a team of so many people.
“More than 22,000 Australians and almost 4,000 New Zealanders break their hip every year, and working to prevent this happening and to improve recoveries is very rewarding,’ said Prof Close.
NeuRA Director and CEO, Professor Peter Schofield, was delighted to see research excellence at NeuRA honoured. Prof Gandevia said the Health Services Research Award recognises the important contribution to the field of health services research makes to improving the safety, quality and effectiveness of health care
“The ANZ Hip Fracture Registry is a great example of how strengthening links between researchers and the health system can deliver better healthcare,” Prof Schofield said.
More information about the ANZ Hip Fractures Registry can be found at http://anzhfr.org/
