Falls

Falls are the largest cause of emergency hospital admissions for older people, and significantly impact on long-term outcomes, e.g. being a major precipitant of people moving from their own home to long-term nursing or residential care.[i]

The highest risk of falls is in those aged 65 and above, and it is estimated that about 30% of people (2.5 million) aged 65 and above living at home and about 50% of people aged 80 and above living at home or in residential care will experience an episode of fall at least once a year. Falls that results in injury can be very serious - approximately 1 in 20 older people living in the community experience a fracture or need hospitalisation after a fall.

Hip fracture is a major public health issue due to an increasing ageing population. The estimated UK health and social care cost of hip fractures is £2 billion a year. Nationally, around 76% of hip fractures occur in women [ii]

Key findings 

Where rates are given, these are per 100,000 of the 65+ population and for the time period 2022/23.

• In the Lancashire-12 area the percentage of the 65+ population predicted to have a fall is projected to increase by 27% by 2035 and the percentage of these predicted to be admitted to hospital as a result is projected to increase by 31% by 2035 (from 2023) (Projecting Older People Population Information System).
• In the Lancashire-12 area (1,866) the rate of emergency hospital admissions due to falls (in people aged 65 and over) is significantly better than the England rate (1,933). Blackburn with Darwen (1,980) and Blackpool (1,923) rates are similar to the England rate.
• At a district level, in Lancaster (2,277) and Hyndburn (2,187) the rate (per 100,000) of emergency hospital admissions due to falls in people aged 65 and over is significantly higher than the England rate. In Ribble Valley (1,553), Wyre (1,560), South Ribble (1,677), Preston (1,725) and Fylde (1,729) the rate (per 100,000) of emergency hospital admissions due to falls in people aged 65 is significantly better than the England rate.

 [i] Department of Health (2012), improving outcomes and supporting transparency. Part2: Summary technical specifications of public health indicators. Available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_132358

[ii] https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg124/evidence/full-guideline-pdf-183081997

For additional county, unitary and district data and further information please see below. Please select the geography type to see what indicators are available as not all are provided across the different footprints.

If the area has defaulted to 'Counties & UAs in North East region', click on the down arrowhead next to 'Geography', select 'Region' and then 'North West'. This is an issue which is not within our control, apologies. 

 

Page updated May 2024