Older people encouraged to get checked after falls and fractures (From Enfield Independent)
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Older people encouraged to get checked after falls and fractures by Enfield Over-50s Forum
4:47pm Tuesday 19th June 2012 in News
By David Hardiman, Reporter
An over-50s group has warned older people in the borough that falls and fractures could hide underlying health problems as a new service is launched.
More than 200 people came to Enfield Over-50s Forum’s Falls Awareness Day at Edmonton Leisure Centre in The Broadway yesterday afternoon to hear from consultants from three hospitals encourage older people experiencing falls to get checked for osteoporosis.
Figures show that of 680 patients attending accident and emergency at Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals in April 2011, more than half were over 60.
Forum chairman Monty Meth said the event was “tremendous”, adding: “We had a series of talks in the morning and then we had yoga, tai chi, Zumba and gentle exercises.
“The idea was to tell people how to avoid falls but also to do something about getting fitter.”
Mr Meth added that forum members had told him they were experiencing difficulties getting referred to clinics at Barnet, Chase Farm and North Middlesex Hospitals, who have joined together to offer a falls and fractures service.
He added: “We have found that GPs fob people off by telling them falling is a natural part of the aging process but it’s not – they’re falling for a reason and it’s important that they are referred to find out that reason.”
He said that consultants encouraged people to get checked for osteoporosis before they suffer a hip fracture, because figures show that one in five older people die within four months of suffering a hip fracture.
dons24pelliparclose says...
10:26am Wed 20 Jun 12
and that:
"forum members had told him they were experiencing difficulties getting referred to clinics at Barnet, Chase Farm and North Middlesex Hospitals, who have joined together to offer a falls and fractures service".
These are surely sometimes called primary care "community services" offered through the Barnet Enfield Haringey Mental Health Trust , BEH-MHT, commissioners.
Why not raise your concerns with Sean Barnett, Interim Borough Lead/Programme Manager – Primary Care Implementation Programme, NHS North Central London (Enfield Borough Office) who is currently giving presentations on improving local primary care services as part of the current series of LBE Area Forums. Have your Shout!