Falls among older people are a major public health issue in Scotland, costing the healthcare system an estimated £471 million per year. Falls can have serious physical, psychological, and social consequences for older individuals, including loss of independence and increased dependence on family or health services. Targeted interventions based on multifactorial risk assessments have been shown to help prevent falls. The National Falls Programme in Scotland aims to reduce falls and harm from falls by establishing integrated falls prevention and management pathways across all local health and social care partnerships by 2014.

1. PREVENTING FALLS IN SCOTLAND
Lianne McInally
Up and About in Care Homes Project Lead
lianne.mcinally1@nhs.net

2. Falls matter
For an older person a fall can be…
• trivial, profound or fatal,
• the first sign of a new or worsening health
problem,
• a marker for the onset of frailty,
• a ‘tipping point’ leading to loss of
confidence and independence, and
increased dependence on family, and
health and social services.
A fall is a symptom, not a diagnosis.
“I was never the same after the fall”
“I suddenly became an old person”
“I don’t really feel the same person”
“I was thoroughly demoralised”
NHS QIS Focus Groups, October 2008
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3. Why falls matter
The cost to health and social care services
In people 65 years and over:
• Largest single presentation to the Scottish Ambulance Service (over 35,000
attendances).
• One of the leading causes of Emergency Department attendance.
• Responsible for over 390,000 emergency bed days.
• Implicated in up to 40% care home admissions.
• Highest reported incident in hospital settings.
Costs to health and social care services in Scotland estimated to exceed
£471m each year (est. rising to £666m by 2020):
– 45% long term care
– 40% NHS
– 15% care at home
Costs to health and social care services in Scotland estimated to exceed
£471m each year (est. rising to £666m by 2020):
– 45% long term care
– 40% NHS
– 15% care at home
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4. Why falls matter
Targeted interventions, based on multifactorial risk assessment, include:
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5. The National Falls Programme in Scotland (2010-present)
Aims
• To reduce the personal, system and
societal costs associated with falls and
harm from falls in Scotland.
• For every health and social care
partnership area in Scotland (32
partnerships) to have a local integrated
falls prevention and management and
fracture prevention pathway for older
people in operation by the end of 2014.
• Contributes to Reshaping Care for Older
People Programme for Change
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Falls Leads Network

6. 6
Up and About (NHSQIS 2010)
 Whole system and integrated.
 Evidence-based.
 Person-centred.
 Underpinned by data for
improvement and measuring
impact.
 Supports and enables healthier
and independent living.
 Recognises and supports carers.
 Everybody’s business.
Creating a shared vision
The Up and About Pathway

7. The Prevention and Management of Falls in the Community
Current work streams
Framework for Action for Scotland
2014-15
•Unscheduled care pathways
•Falls Care Bundles
•Materials to support self management
•Learning resources for health and
social care staff
•Repository of new and emerging
practices
Up and About in Care Homes
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8. For more information, please contact:
Ann Murray
Programme Manager
Mobile: 07833 095399
ann.murray3@nhs.net
Lianne McInally
Project Lead
Mobile: 07580994822
Lianne.mcinally1@nhs.net
http://www.knowledge.scot.nhs.uk/fallsandbonehealth