Falls (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)

Key issues

  1. The local population is ageing and the proportion of those aged 65 and over continues to increase.
  2. Injury and debility due to falls will demand even greater resources from the Health Service, the local authority, and third party providers. All of whom are already struggling to meet the current demands.
  3. The current approach to this issue is generally reactive rather than proactive. Without an investment in prevention, services will not be able to cope with the demand in the very near future.
  4. There are evidence proven interventions and guidance that can reduce one's risk of falling.
  5. Evidence has also shown a positive economic return on investment in fall prevention interventions. (Gillespie, 2009)An audit of Sunderland's Community Falls Service in 2012 found a potential savings of £640,000 (Metz, 2014)
  6. This issue cannot be addressed by one agency or service in isolation but rather requires the coordinated efforts and engagement of the health services, local authority, and third party providers.
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