A PIONEERING falls prevention programme - trialled in East Lancashire - is set to be rolled out across the county over the next two years.

Successful work by the falls prevention team at East Lancashire Hospitals Trust, to curb the number of unnecessary accidents, has persuaded county council bosses to invest £345,000 in a Lancashire-wide project.

In a target group of 50, it was discovered 30 had suffered falls requiring an ambulance visit.

But after an assessment and referrals to physiotherapy or podiatry services, among others, as part of the Steady On! initiative, less than a handful required a further hospital visit.

An agreement has now been drawn up with hospitals in East Lancashire, and their counterparts in the Lancashire Care, Blackpool and Southport NHS trusts, to extend the campaign beyond Burnley, Hyndburn, Pendle, Rossendale and Ribble Valley.

Steve Gross, the county council's director of health and wellbeing, said: "The programme is built on whole systems working together to address falls risk and prevention in order to promote the health and wellbeing of the older person.

"Older people are recruited as volunteers to work with the falls team to promote the messages of the Steady On! programme."

Medics used data provided by the North West Ambulance, in the first instance, to determine initial hotspots for the problem.

Yvonne Skellern-Foster, the hospital trust's falls team partnership lead, conducted an awareness-raising campaign at Burnley bus station and markets in Clitheroe, Colne, Rawtenstall and Accrington last November and December.

She added: "Although the cause of some falls are more complex, we can all do a lot to reduce our own risk of falling, such as making sure our footwear is suitable for the purpose, keeping up to date with eye and hearing tests, having a medication review if you take a range of tablets is a necessity. Good lighting and clear paths at home help too."

Hospital admission rates are said to be significantly worse in Lancashire than elsewhere in the UK and mortality rates from accidental falls are also higher in the county than the national average.

The work will commence next month and publicity budgets are included for each borough, based on their relative age profiles.