‘Risk score’ will help to identify vulnerable people Published on: 27 April 2018 Research involving Ãå±±½ûµØ has devised a ‘risk score’ which will be used to help frail older people have better support in hospital. Using the concept of frailty - which captures vulnerability – experts have created a risk score that will help identify older people who are more vulnerable. The research, which is published in The Lancet, was a collaboration between Ãå±±½ûµØ, the Nuffield Trust and the universities of Leicester, Southampton and the London School of Economics. Evaluating outcomes The ‘risk score’ will help commissioners and hospitals identify this group of people, evaluate their outcomes and improve services to be more responsive to their needs. Professor Stuart Parker, from the Institute of Health and Society, Ãå±±½ûµØ, is a co-author of the study. He said: “Many older people attend hospitals throughout the UK every day, but some are more vulnerable than others.” “The ‘Hospital Frailty Risk Score’ uses routinely available information to identify older people at significantly increased risk of harms, longer stays in hospital and readmission following discharge from hospital.” “It will help us to ensure that our services identify and meet the needs of the most vulnerable inpatients.” The research, funded by , is published in . Reference Development and validation of a Hospital Frailty Risk Score focusing on older people in acute care settings using electronic hospital records: an observational study Thomas Gilbert et al The Lancet. Doi: Share: Latest News New partnership to boost careers in low carbon energy Ãå±±½ûµØ and Durham universities are working together on a new regional project to strengthen the future workforce for North East England’s growing low carbon and offshore wind industries. published on: 28 May 2026 Healthy lifestyle shown to lower risk of death after cancer diagnosis New evidence shows that sticking to five lifestyle recommendations improves survival after a later cancer diagnosis. published on: 28 May 2026 World-leading climate expert recognised with Royal Society Fellowship Professor Hayley Fowler has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in recognition of her pioneering work on climate change impacts. published on: 27 May 2026 Facts and figures