The number one reason older people end up in A&E - that killed almost 1,000 in a year

The NHS has issued a warning about the number one reason why a certain age group ends up in A&E - with the problem killing almost 1,000 in one year.

In 2020, almost a thousand people across the north west died as a result of a fall at home. The greatest proportion of those were over the age of 75, where 730 people died as a result of a fall.

Falls are also the number one reason for an older person to be taken to A&E with around 1 in 20 sustaining a broken bone and needing hospital admission, according to the health service.

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Last year the North West Ambulance Service visited almost 78,000 people across the region as a result of a fall, with more than 46,000 having to go to hospital. A third of people aged over 65, and half of those aged over 80, fall over at least once a year.

Since 2010, the number of people requiring hospital admission as a result of a fall has risen by a huge 16 percent, said the NHS.

Dr Michael Gregory, Regional Medical Director at NHS England, said: “Falls are painful and can cause injuries. It is unfortunate that some people never fully recover from a fall.

"Those people who do recover, however, tend to lose their independence and their confidence. During 'falls prevention week', it is crucial people take some simple actions to keep safe, and avoid falling and coming into hospital. People might be surprised to know that one of the main reasons people end up in A&E is because they’ve had a fall.”

This coming week, senior doctors across the north west are reminding people people who may be at increased risk of a fall – along with their family members and carers – to take some simple actions now to help keep them safe.

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