Falls team offers bone advice

6:00pm Friday 15th June 2012 in Health

A DRIVE is on to boost the health of people’s bones across East Lancashire.

About 30 per cent of over-65s and 50 per cent aged over 80 fall every year.

From Monday until June 23, the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust’s Community falls team will be holding advice sessions on avoiding fractures.

They will highlight the importance of exercise and a balanced diet rich in calcium, while also getting enough Vitamin D through sunshine to build and maintain healthy bones.

They will demonstrate activities, which can range from taking a walk to Tai Chi.

The team will be available to check and change walking stick ferrules at the following events:

  • Tuesday, from 9.30am to 3pm at Clitheroe Market;
  • Wednesday, from 9.30am to 2.30pm at Burnley Centre (bandstand area)
  • Thursday, from 10am to 3pm at Rawtenstall ASDA
  • Friday, from 9.30am to 2.30pm at Accrington Market
  • Saturday, June 23 from 10am to 2pm at Colne ASDA For further information on how to prevent falls, call the team on 01200 420678.

Comments (2)

6:16pm Fri 15 Jun 12

mavrick says...

Is this the best use of scarce NHS resources? I think there must be a limit to the patronising drivel the NHS bosses push at people. The East Lancs Trust would do better to employ more frontline staff.
Is this the best use of scarce NHS resources? I think there must be a limit to the patronising drivel the NHS bosses push at people. The East Lancs Trust would do better to employ more frontline staff. mavrick

8:56am Sat 16 Jun 12

Millie85 says...

Please just type cost of falls to the nhs into a search engine. The first articles that come up imdicate that there is a daily cost of falls of £4.6 million - and that was in 2010! And falls is the largest cause of accidental death in the over 65s. Surely it's much better to prevent falls in the first place and if that is not possible try to reduce the number of fractures by improving bone health (e.g highlighting good diet etc).

There is a huge amount of evidence that falls prevention is extremely cost effective to the nhs and also of great benefit to the ageing population, who are often left physically and psychologically harmed following falls (even if they don't end up in hospital).

And no I don't work for this team - I work on a general ward who's beds are often full of older fallers who are terrified of falling again, have decreased confidence, reduce the amount they walk because they don't want to fall, become weaker/more susceptible to illness and then actually end up falling more!

As a frontline staff member I think this team are so needed to try to reduce the burden on me and actively encourage anyone who has fallen or has a relative that falls to go and see what they can offer!
Please just type cost of falls to the nhs into a search engine. The first articles that come up imdicate that there is a daily cost of falls of £4.6 million - and that was in 2010! And falls is the largest cause of accidental death in the over 65s. Surely it's much better to prevent falls in the first place and if that is not possible try to reduce the number of fractures by improving bone health (e.g highlighting good diet etc). There is a huge amount of evidence that falls prevention is extremely cost effective to the nhs and also of great benefit to the ageing population, who are often left physically and psychologically harmed following falls (even if they don't end up in hospital). And no I don't work for this team - I work on a general ward who's beds are often full of older fallers who are terrified of falling again, have decreased confidence, reduce the amount they walk because they don't want to fall, become weaker/more susceptible to illness and then actually end up falling more! As a frontline staff member I think this team are so needed to try to reduce the burden on me and actively encourage anyone who has fallen or has a relative that falls to go and see what they can offer! Millie85

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