News

Don’t get tripped up this winter!

With temperatures set to drop further, the NHS in North Cumbria and the North East is encouraging all those at risk of falls to take extra care.

Around one in three adults over 65 who live at home will have at least one fall a year, and about half of these will have more frequent falls. As temperatures plummet, health bosses expect an increasing number of people to be affected and require urgent care.

The winter months bring additional challenges with wet, cold weather, falling leaves, ice and snow becoming hazardous. Falls are one of the main causes of older people attending accident and emergency departments and this can sometimes lead to lengthy hospital stays.

A report published in Autumn 2017, commissioned by the Academic Health Science Network for the North East and North Cumbria, revealed that in 2014/15 there were 12,654 emergency admissions for falls in the North East and North Cumbria, costing an estimated £84,973,249 to the region’s NHS*.

When bad weather swept across the region on Thursday last week, the North East Ambulance Service recorded 53 cases of patients falling in snow and ice, of which almost half were aged over 60.

NHS England’s Medical Director for Cumbria and the North East, Professor Chris Gray, said: “The natural ageing process means that older people have an increased risk of having a fall. There’s always a risk that a fall could lead to broken bones, and it can cause the person to lose confidence, become withdrawn and feel as if they’ve lost their independence.

“When the weather is really bad, the advice is to think carefully about going out in the first place. These messages are really important as our A&E departments are under significant pressure.

“Our advice is if you need medical help, please look at the NHS Choices website for health advice and information about where to go to get the right treatment. If you need medical help fast, but it’s not life-threatening or an emergency, call NHS 111 at any time for advice. In some cases, they may be able to book a GP appointment for you.”

Every year, there are around 255,000 falls-related emergency hospital admissions in England among patients aged 65 and older. Falls are estimated to cost the NHS more than £2.3bn a year and the annual total cost of fragility fractures to the UK has been estimated at £4.4bn*.

Caroline Abrahams, Charity Director at Age UK said: “Older people are at particular risk of falls during winter.  The streets can be extremely slippery underfoot due to fallen leaves, accumulations of rain, ice and snow, so we would encourage all older people to take extra care when out and about.

“When weather conditions are like this a pair of sturdy shoes with non-slip soles are worth their weight in gold as they may prevent a nasty tumble and resultant injury.

“Winter can also be a lonely time for older people if the weather means they are stuck at home, so we’d also urge people to keep an eye on their older family members, friends and neighbours. Bringing in some shopping for them, collecting prescriptions or just stopping by to check they’re ok, and being prepared to have a friendly chat, can be of immense help to older people at this time of year.”

If you’re worried about a relative or elderly neighbour, contact your local council or call the Age UK helpline on 0800 678 1174 (8am-7pm every day).

Assistant dispatch service manager Andy Bell, from the North East Ambulance Service, added: “Winter time can pose a greater risk to people falling. At this time of year, we see more people out doing shopping for Christmas and when the bad weather comes there are more hazards such as snow, ice and colder temperatures.

“Falling can impact on the quality of a patient’s life and taking steps to keep warm and stay safe can make a real difference, particularly for older people.”

For less urgent health needs, contact your GP or local pharmacist in the usual way and check the NHS Choices page for medical advice and to find the right service.

If you care for children, download the child health app which is free and contains a wealth of advice and support.

If you’re concerned that a person may be suffering from hypothermia, contact NHS 111.

A new scheme to improve GP access for patients means that over 2.7 million people in the North East will be able to see a GP in the evening, over the weekend and over bank holidays. The improved access scheme is funded by NHS England’s GP Forward View.

5 ways to avoid slips and trips:

  • Make sure your slippers and shoes fit properly; wear shoes or boots with flat, low heels, and a slip-resistant sole
  • Clear clutter, loose wires and rugs from around the house
  • See your optician for regular eye tests
  • Make sure your house is well lit
  • Keep active and exercise, and eat calcium-rich foods.

Fall prevention