A Northamptonshire service which treats people who have suffered a fall and helps them to avoid another accident has been shortlisted for a national award.
The Crisis Response Falls Team is a joint service from East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EMAS) and Northamptonshire County Council.
It is a finalist in this year’s British Medical Journal (BMJ) Group’s Improving Health Awards, in the Emergency Medicine Team of the Year category and has been shortlisted for the Patient Safety in Primary Care and Patient Safety in Elderly Care categories in the 2013 Patient Safety Awards.
The service was launched in 2011 to respond to the fact that falls at home, especially those involving frail older people, account for a large proportion of EMAS’ calls. To date the service has helped more than 700 patients, allowed more people to be treated in their comfort of their home and reduced repeat falls.
In 2012 the service delivered a 5 per cent reduction in repeat falls when compared to 2011.
Peter Mason, EMAS’s service improvement and innovation manager, said: “We’re delighted the service has been shortlisted for more prestigious awards.
“The team help us respond to falls more quickly and offer appropriate treatment closer to home. They also help avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.
“Falls can be very unsettling, especially for older people. This service offers quality care, often in the comfort of a patient’s own home and links them to services which will help them avoid future falls and stay independent for as long as possible.”
Councillor Robin Brown from Northamptonshire County Council, said: “It’s great news that the excellent work being carried out by The Crisis Response Service has been shortlisted for another award.
“This scheme has made a real difference, especially to vulnerable older people who prefer to remain independent and safe in their own homes after a fall, rather than having the stress of going to hospital unnecessarily.”