A HOME response programme set up by the NHS in partnership with agencies across Lancashire has reported a huge success over its first year in operation.

The integrated home response and falls lifting service was set up in October last year with the specific aim of helping elderly residents who had fallen in their own homes and were unable to get up again.

Now, Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System has reported that the service has recorded 14,500 home visits in its first year resulting in more than 6,000 elderly people being helped back onto their feet.

Executive director Talib Yaseen said: “The excellent results already being seen over the last 11 months from this new falls lifting service is just one example of the partnership working happening across the county to make a real difference to the lives of residents across Lancashire.

“The organisations involved are already looking at how this can be expanded further to provide support to even more people who fall in their own homes.”

Figures released by the NHS show that around one third of adults over 65 living at home will have at least one fall a year but that most of these will not result in serious injuries.

As such the service helps take the pressure off ambulance crews by reducing unnecessary calls but still provides reassurance to elderly people.

One elderly client whose husband received help from the service said: “The lady that came was absolutely brilliant to me and my husband, she was very easy to talk to and was just lovely.

“The equipment is marvellous and the whole experience was lovely.”

The service is commissioned and funded by a health and social care partnership of the NHS and various local authorities including Lancashire County Council and Blackpool Council along with the eight clinical commissioning groups in the area.

The responders themselves are provided by Progress Housing Association and Vitaline, Blackpool Council’s community alarm service, and aim to get to the scene quickly to help people up and ensures they are comfortable

The fully trained professionals will check those who have fallen for any injuries and will call an ambulance or alerts other services when necessary

Referrals are made to the service when elderly people, their family, friends or carers call 999 or 111 in the event of a fall.