Contacts:
- Integrated fracture liaison service: Ann Hunt – 01284 718260 or Nicola Burrows – 01284 718261
- Falls prevention exercise “Positive Steps” : Age UK Suffolk – 01284 757 740
- Falls assessments/therapy input : Care co-ordination centre – 0300 123 2425
Falls and Fragility Fractures (Document under review)
Welcome to the falls and fragility fracture page.
Each year, about 35% of over-65s living in the community experience one or more falls and about 45% of those aged over 80 fall. Half of all ‘fallers’ will also have another fall within twelve months of the first fall.
Evidence suggests that falls can be reduced by 50% when an individual’s risk of falling are assessed and action taken on them (NICE 2004)
A fall can destroy a person’s confidence, increase their isolation and reduce their independence. Even the after effects of minor falls can be catastrophic for an older person’s physical and mental health.
Falling may result in injury – primarily fractures. It is crucial to think about a patient’s fracture and falls risks together. The most common fractures that occur as a result of falling are of the wrist and hip.
Helping to prevent people falling, maintaining their mobility and helping them to recover from a fragility fracture is a priority for West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group.
On the links below you will find information about identifying falls and fracture risks, medication matters, exercise for falls and fracture prevention, the West Suffolk CCG Integrated Fracture Liaison Service, clinical pathways and assessment tools:
- Falls risks
- Keeping bones strong
- Exercise for falls prevention
- Medication matters
- Risk of osteoporosis and fractures
- WS integrated fracture liaison service
- WS integrated fracture liaison referral form
- Pathways and assessment tools
You may consider sign-posting your patients to the following agencies for either practical or psychological support:
- Suffolk Family Carers – www.suffolk-carers.co.uk
- Age UK – AgeUK Suffolk.org.uk
- Suffolk Careline – for advice regarding personal alarms, 24hr carers available to respond to a personal alarm, telecare sensors – www.suffolkcareline.com or – 0845 600 7724
- Orbit Handyvan service – minor repairs and adaption’s – the general public can self-refer – www.orbiteast.org.uk or Freephone – 0800 121 7711
- PoppyCalls Handyvan service (British Legion run service) or Freephone – 0800 032 0306
- Sensing Change – helping people with sight and hearing loss – www.sensingchange.org.uk – 01473 260 030
Useful websites:
If there is anything else you would like to see on this page please email caroline.ratcliff@westsuffolkccg.nhs.uk
