Falls (health and wellbeing needs in South Tyneside)

NHS Provision:

• Community Falls Service: A multi-disciplinary team of allied health professionals including nursing and physiotherapists covering both South Tyneside and Sunderland with outpatient falls clinics, public education, and rehabilitation including vestibular assessment and rehabilitation. Care home residents and homebound patients can be seen in their own home as needed.
• Falls and Syncope Service: Care of the Elderly consultant physicians who provide medical and tilt-table clinics on an outpatient basis at South Tyneside District Hospital. They also provide a clinical resource to the Community Falls Service.
• Integrated Community Teams: Multi-disciplinary teams of allied health professionals, including nurses, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists providing acute nursing and rehabilitation to community dwelling patients.
• South Tyneside District Hospital: Provides acute care to people who have fallen and through the fracture liaison nurse, signposts to appropriate services and providers upon discharge. The physiotherapy department, based at Moorlands Day Unit, provides rehabilitation and exercise classes.
• General Practitioners: Provide the bulk of primary care, screening and prevention education to local residents.

Local Authority Provision:

• Telecare Services: Monitoring of vulnerable adults in their homes and assisting if they have fallen.
• Transport: Bus passes and cost sharing for taxi services help to keep older adults connected socially and active in the community
• Equipment: The STAR Centre and local authority occupational therapists can assess needs and provide equipment to residents that improve function and safety.
• House Clearances: Removal of waste and objects from both within and outside of properties, which reduces fall risks.
• Warm up North: A programme to assist residents to maintain a warm home in the winter months. Below optimal ambient temperatures is a risk factor for falling.
• Change4life: Education, information, and coaching on how to make healthy changes and improve one's activity levels.
• Haven Court: An intermediate care facility that provides sub-acute care and services to adults.
• Sheltered Accommodation and Extended Care Facilities: Provides safe home environments to older adults with varying levels of supervision and / or assistance.
• Leisure Centres: The authority operates numerous facilities that could provide space for more activities geared toward the at risk population.

Charitable and Third Party Provision:

• Tyne and Wear Care Alliance: Provides training to care homes and extended care facilities on fall prevention.
• Age Concern Tyneside South: Provides a variety of interventions including:
  • An onsite gym specifically geared to the needs of older adults
  • Exercise classes that focus on strength building and balance.
  • Classes and groups that increase social engagement.
  • Handyperson services to address maintenance issues of the homes of older adults.

Multi-Agency Fall Prevention and Fuel Poverty Strategy Group

A joint effort between South Tyneside Foundation Trust, the South Tyneside Office of Public Health, and Age UK which quarterly brings together numerous and varied stakeholders to address the needs and issues relating to fall prevention

The Northeast Regional Falls Group

This is a group of health professionals from across the Northeast of England who meets quarterly to share information, research findings, guidance, and innovation. The Community Falls Service is represented and has a seat as deputy chair of the quarterly meetings.