Dozens of patients died within 30 days of breaking their hip after being admitted to Worcestershire Royal Hospital in one year, an audit has found.

Worcestershire Royal Hospital dealt with 358 hip fractures during 2018, according to the latest annual National Hip Fracture Database report by the Royal College of Physicians.

Of these, 26 people died within 30 days of sustaining the fracture.

At 7.3%, the hospital had one of the highest mortality rates of the 177 trauma units across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, where the average rate was 6.1%.

Hip fractures are the most common reason for admission to orthopaedic wards, according to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, mainly affecting older people who may suffer from osteoporosis, or weak bones.

Those who break their hip are at increased risk of suffering potentially fatal complications, including infections, pneumonia, and cardiovascular conditions such as heart failure or strokes.

The National Hip Fracture Database was established in 2007, and examines the quality of patient care across hospitals using a series of key performance indicators. Since then, deaths within a month of a hip fracture have halved, with around 4,000 people dying during 2018.

However, the report states that "only a minority of patients will completely regain their previous abilities", with increased dependency and difficulty walking meaning a quarter will need long-term care.

Hip fractures incur an annual cost of over £1 billion to health and social services – 1% of the NHS budget.

Of the patients treated at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, 170 (48%) had not been discharged to their home or original residence within 120 days of their injury. Across England, Wales and Northern Ireland, this was the case for 31% of patients.