A pilot scheme geared at helping Islanders who suffer non-injury falls in their own home has been shortlisted as a finalist in this year’s Health Service Journal (HSJ) Patient Safety Awards.
Falls make up a significant number of 999 calls and many do not initially result in significant injury to people.
However, delays to such calls, as ambulance crews are sent to higher priority incidents, can lead to more harmful impacts as people, who are often elderly, remain on the floor.
Complications of time spent on the floor
With evidence showing that for every hour spent on the floor, the probability of hospital admittance increases by ten per cent, Island officials recognised they needed to take a different approach to respond to the needs of Island residents.
Working in partnership, the Isle of Wight Council’s Wightcare service and the Isle of Wight NHS Trust Ambulance Service developed The Wightcare Community Falls Response which was launched in March 2023.
Care usually within one hour
The service is sent to 999 or 111 calls where a person who has had a fall has been clinically assessed by the NHS Trust as not requiring an emergency ambulance response.
The new services means that locally people who suffer a non-injury fall receive swifter care — usually within one hour — and do not need to wait for an emergency ambulance.
Taylor: Helps crews attend people in emergency and life threatening situations
Kathyn Taylor, head of quality and governance for Isle of Wight Ambulance Service, said,
“Being able to get to patients quickly who have fallen prevents potential complications that result from being on the ground unable to move, and therefore the need to go to hospital.
“Reducing the number of non-serious incidents awaiting a response from an ambulance also helps to keep our crews available to attend people in emergency and life threatening situations in the shortest time possible. We are grateful to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board for funding this pilot.”
To date, 45 people have benefitted from the scheme.
Stephens: It can be a distressing time for the individual and their loved ones
Councillor Ian Stephens, Cabinet member for adult social services, said,
“It is vital that Island residents who have a fall don’t wait longer than is necessary to get the help they need. It can be a distressing time for the individual and their loved ones, especially if that person is required to wait for help.
“This scheme, developed right here on the Island, ensures local people who have been triaged by medical professionals as requiring a lower-category response, are seen and assisted more quickly and that the risk of them coming to more harm is reduced. This could prevent the need for them to be admitted to hospital.
“I would like to thank everyone involved in the project which will make a real difference to the residents we serve.”
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
