The West Essex Falls Car is a specially equipped ambulance vehicle, which is staffed by an East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) paramedic and a physiotherapist or occupational therapist from the west Essex Urgent Community Response Team at Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).
The service, which is commissioned by Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board, aims to reach people within two hours wherever possible, depending on demand, and has specialist equipment to help lift and move patients.
During every call out, the team assesses patients’ physical health, treats them for any injuries wherever possible and checks for any potential risk the person could fall again in the future.
They also make sure they have any care and equipment they need and refer to other community services as required
If after assessment the patient needs hospital treatment, the falls team will arrange for an ambulance.
Dr Jane Halpin, Chief Executive of Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board, said: “The Falls Car is an important service which gets help quickly to frail people who have fallen.
“We know that the longer someone is on the floor, particularly if they are older, the more likely they are to become very unwell and need admitting to hospital.
“This service provides a holistic assessment ensuring that people have the right care, equipment and monitoring in place to help them recover from their fall and keep living independently at home where they would be most comfortable.”
The falls car service launched on 1 June 2023 and has been extended for another ten months until the end of March 2025 following its success.
In its first 12 months, the team helped 1,133 people. The vast majority – 867 patients – were able to remain at home with ongoing support from community health teams as appropriate.
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting, NHS Chief Executive Amanda Pritchard, and Clare Panniker, NHS Regional Director for the East of England, met some of the falls car team at St Margaret’s Hospital in Epping in August to find out more about their work.
Read more about the West Essex Falls Car Service on the Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT) website.