A NORTH East health trust is improving the quality of care for people who suffer a hip fracture.

More women over the age of 50 will break a hip than have breast cancer.

Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust manages hospital, community health and adult social care services in Northumberland.

To save more lives and increase the chances of patients making a better recovery, the Trust has launched a Hip Fracture Quality Improvement Programme, known as Hip Qip.

Monica Armstrong benefited from the improved level of care at Wansbeck Hospital when she broke her hip.

She was about to get into her car to drive home from a meeting in Stannington when she stepped backwards and fell.

Monica was taken to Wansbeck General Hospital by ambulance where she was X-rayed and then operated on within 36 hours.

Remarkably, the staff helped Monica to get up on the same day as the operation – a key part of the Hip Qip programme – and she was well enough to be discharged home less than two days later.

The 68-year-old said: “It was the best treatment I have ever had in my life. It was absolutely superb, the staff were fantastic and I couldn’t fault anything.

“I feel great and I’m now able to get back into the garden so I’m very pleased.”