Frailty score recording on health records

Understanding Frailty Scores on Your Health Record

Frailty, a term often misunderstood in healthcare, is now being recorded on patient health records. As part of our NHS contract at Highfield surgery, we are required to record a frailty score for all patients aged 50 and over.

This Electronic Frailty Index (EFI) score is an administrative code added to your record. It is generated automatically from existing information within your health record, such as your age, current health conditions, past medical history, and medications. The purpose of this score is to help us identify individuals who might benefit from further assessment and ensure that those most in need receive appropriate care.

It is crucial to understand that this frailty score is not a clinical diagnosis of frailty and should not be interpreted as such. Instead, it is a tool used to improve the quality of care for individuals across Lancashire and South Cumbria by helping us proactively identify and support patients.

What is Frailty? (Definition)

Frailty describes a state where a person’s ability to recover from illness or injury may take longer or be more challenging. While it becomes more common with age, frailty can also affect younger individuals.

Recognising severe frailty can be relatively straightforward. However, milder forms of frailty can be harder to distinguish from the normal aging process. Early identification of frailty is key to helping patients maintain their well-being.