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ADULT AND COMMUNITY
SERVICES SELECT COMMITTEE – 15 JULY 2004 NHS LIVE 2004-2005. FALLS PREVENTION AND HARM REDUCTION PROJECT
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO
HOLDER FOR ADULT AND COMMUNITY SERVICES |
This report was requested by the
Select Committee to provide a briefing of the work of the multi-agency team involved in developing
the NHS Live preventative programme.
ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE To debate
and make recommendations. |
BACKGROUND
It is estimated that there are
7,000 incidences per year of older people falling on the Isle of Wight. When these falls result in injury the
financial costs to Health and Social Care services are very significant. For the individual a fall can greatly reduce
an older person’s independence and adversely impact on their quality of life.
NHS Live is a national initiative
of the Department of Health that aims to encourage joint working and innovative
practice in the field of Health and Social Care. The projects that commence this year will be considered for the
Health and Social Care Awards in 2005.
The prevention of falls in older
people is a specific standard in the National Service Framework for older
people. Standard Six states: ‘The NHS, working in partnership with
councils, takes action to prevent falls and reduce resultant fractures or other
injuries in their populations of older people. Older people who have fallen
receive effective treatment and rehabilitation and, with their carers, receive
advice on prevention through a specialised falls service.’
Health and Social Care professionals, along with service users and the
voluntary sector, are already well established in a steering group that is
taking forward the development of a specialised falls service. Additionally, the IW Social Services and
Housing Directorate is part of a multi agency pilot project on the utilisation
of ‘telecare’ to help prevent falls and support people to remain at home.
The purpose
of this NHS Live campaign is to raise public awareness on the Isle of Wight of
the risk factors associated with falls and to promote their prevention. This will be achieved through engagement
with wider IW Council and Health Services, the voluntary sector and the
community at large.
There are
existing initiatives in the preventative health care arena and the aim of this
programme is to learn from those and help to expand them along with the
community awareness raising. This will
also help to meet the Corporate Plan objective to ‘provide care services that
promote good health and help prevent illness and disability’.
National Service Framework for
Older People, Standard Six.
IW Council Corporate Plan 2002 –
2005
Healthfit
PAF Indicators: C27 – 28 Supported Admissions to Residential
Care,
C29 – 32 Adults Supported to Live
at Home, D41 Delayed Discharges
D43 Waiting Time for Care Plan.
Plans for the programme have been discussed with the larger
falls steering group, including service users, and a presentation has been
given to the all Island stakeholders group.
Ongoing consultation and feedback opportunities will be an
essential part of the preventative programme.
The subject of this report was undertaken at no additional
cost to the EDS budget.
There are no direct implications for Crime and Disorder Act.
Contact Points: Simon
Smith, Manager Emergency Duty Service.
Tel: (82)3408
email: [email protected]
Prue Grimshaw, Acting Head of
Children’s Services. Tel: 520600
e-mail: [email protected]
GORDON
KENDALL
Portfolio
Holder for Adult and Community Services