15 March 2023
This World Delirium Awareness Day, NHS Borders is encouraging you to get familiar with the warning signs of delirium. Together we can spot it, treat it, stop it.
Delirium is the onset of sudden confusion. It has a range of causes but can be brought on when someone has an underlying illness, an infection, or has suffered a severe injury such as a hip fracture.
The four signs of delirium are:
- Confusion – is the person unclear about what is happening?
- Disorientation – is the person unsure about where they are, or what time it is?
- Agitation – is the person anxious, nervous or getting frustrated?
- Hallucination – is the person seeing or hearing things that are not there?
This video created by Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust is a helpful summary of how delirium may be experienced.
If you suspect someone has delirium, think SQID - Single Question In Delirium: “is the person more confused today than they were before?” If you think the answer is yes, you should contact their GP or call NHS 24 on 111.
Sarah Horan, Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals at NHS Borders said: “Spotting the warning signs of delirium can be lifesaving. Delirium can be extremely distressing, but it could also point towards an underlying condition which may need urgently treating.
“Recognising something isn’t right with a loved one, and knowing how to act accordingly means that delirium and its underlying causes can be treated as soon as possible.”
If you are in a healthcare setting and you think someone is experiencing delirium, it is important to let staff know.