A project to explore why so many over 65s suffer falls in south east Lincolnshire is being carried out.
It aims to highlight opportunities to enhance support for older people – such as improving access to local wellbeing services, ensuring consistent falls risk assessments, and helping more people access digital or in-person information about falls prevention.
It’s being led by Sithara Thundathil Sunny Joseph, patient experience and engagement lead at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn.
“This project was born from a genuine concern about why so many older patients were being admitted following falls – particularly in areas like Long Sutton,” she said. “We wanted to better understand the patient journey and look at how we can work together to make care more joined-up, more accessible and more preventative.
“By listening to our community and working with partners, we can support people earlier and help them stay safe and well at home for longer.”
Early recommendations include a fall risk assessment for all those over 65, strength and balance classes that are easier to access locally and alternative communication channels for those without digital access.
The survey has been conducted by the QEH working with the James Paget University Hospitals (JPUH) Research and evaluation scholarships, funded by NICHE.
Pippa Street, chief nurse at The QEH, said: “This is a great example of listening to our residents and working collaboratively using patient-centred research to drive patient safety with meaningful improvements. Sithara’s work has been compassionate, thoughtful, and evidence-led – and we are proud of the role it is playing in developing preventative measures, educating and strengthening older people in not coming to harm wherever possible.”
She added: “Our goal is always to provide health education for safer, high-quality care – not just within hospital walls, but out in our communities too.
“This project is helping us understand more about the challenges people in the community face, so we can offer more proactive, joined-up support across the system.”
