3,000 falls calls every month across trust’s region.
The ambulance service responsible for Milton Keynes has this week launched a campaign to raise awareness around falls among the elderly and frail, as costs to help these patients soar.
South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS) unveiled the month long campaign as it revealed that calls to its 999 service from such patients now total around 3,000 every month.
Across the UK, ambulance services respond to 700,000 emergency calls related to falls among patients aged 65 and over, every year – about 10% of all 999 calls. Falls in this age group are estimated to cost the NHS more than £2.3 billion annually, with most expenditure related to hip fractures.
“Falls in older adults often result from a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic factors,” said Jon Lloyd, specialist practice manager at SCAS.
“Intrinsic factors include muscle weakness, poor balance, visual impairments and the side effects of certain medications. Extrinsic factors encompass environmental hazards, such as poor lighting, slippery floors and unsecured rugs.”
“Through working together more closely, we can improve the response strategies of emergency and wider NHS and social care services to this large cohort of patients and develop preventative measures.”
As well as highlighting the innovative work of falls and frailty partnerships across the South Central region, the campaign will also raise awareness of the work of SCAS’ volunteer community first responders in attending non-injury fall call outs to alleviate pressure on emergency ambulances.
