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A national survey of services for the prevention and management of falls in the UK

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Lamb, S. E. (Sallie E.), Fisher, Joanne D., Gates, Simon, Potter, Rachel, Cooke, Matthew, MB ChB and Carter, Yvonne, 1959-2009. (2008) A national survey of services for the prevention and management of falls in the UK. BMC Health Services Research, Vol.8 (No.23). ISSN 1472-6963

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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-8-233

Abstract

Background: The National Health Service (NHS) was tasked in 2001 with developing service provision to prevent falls in older people. We carried out a national survey to provide a description of health and social care funded UK fallers services, and to benchmark progress against current practice guidelines. Methods: Cascade approach to sampling, followed by telephone survey with senior member of the fall service. Characteristics of the service were assessed using an internationally agreed taxonomy. Reported service provision was compared against benchmarks set by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Results: We identified 303 clinics across the UK. 231 (76%) were willing to participate. The majority of services were based in acute or community hospitals, with only a few in primary care or emergency departments. Access to services was, in the majority of cases, by health professional referral. Most services undertook a multi-factorial assessment. The content and quality of these assessments varied substantially. Services varied extensively in the way that interventions were delivered, and particular concern is raised about interventions for vision, home hazard modification, medication review and bone health. Conclusion: The most common type of service provision was a multi-factorial assessment and intervention. There were a wide range of service models, but for a substantial number of services, delivery appears to fall below recommended NICE guidance.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Divisions:	Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School > Health Sciences Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Falls (accidents) in old age -- Great Britain, Older people -- Wounds and injuries -- Great Britain
Journal or Publication Title:	BMC Health Services Research
Publisher:	BioMed Central Ltd.
ISSN:	1472-6963
Date:	12 November 2008
Volume:	Vol.8
Number:	No.23
Identification Number:	10.1186/1472-6963-8-233
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	NHS National Co-ordinating Centre for Service Delivery and Organisation (NCCSDO)
Grant number:	Project number SDO/139/2006
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/519