Urgent care for people who have fallen at home

This Falls Prevention Awareness Week, we are reminding people who live in west Essex about an urgent response service for people who have fallen at home.

The West Essex Falls Car is a specially equipped ambulance vehicle that aims to reach people within two hours wherever possible, depending on demand.

It is staffed by an East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) paramedic and a physiotherapist or occupational therapist from Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT).

The team have specialist equipment to help lift and move patients, and will treat them for any injuries wherever possible, or arrange for the person to be taken to hospital if needed.

During every call out, they will assess the patient’s physical health and check for any potential risk they could fall again in the future.

They will make sure they have any care and equipment they need and refer to other community services as required.

The falls car service launched on 1 June 2023 and helped 1,133 people in its first year.

The majority of patients are able to remain at home with ongoing support from community health teams as needed.

The service is for any resident in west Essex who is registered with a west Essex GP, and has had a fall with or without injury, or requires lifting from the floor.

If you have fallen or need help for someone else, please call 0300 123 5433 and choose Option 2. The falls car service operates seven days a week from 8am to 8pm.