South Lakeland Health Improvement Plan - NHS Cumbria

27.3. FallsFalls are a major cause of disability and the leading cause of mortality due toinjury in people aged over 75 in the UK. Over 400,000 older people inEngland attend A&E Departments following an accident and up to 14,000people a year die in the UK as a result of an osteoporotic hip fracture(Department of Health, 2001)Figure 28.4 shows that South Lakeland is ranked as having the highestDSR for all people who die from accidental falls in Cumbria. When comparingthe rates for districts within Cumbria however, the error bars are large and sofirm conclusions cannot be drawn. Nevertheless, the confidence levels on thedata do show that South Lakeland has a higher mortality rate from accidentalfalls than the England and Wales average rate.This raised mortality from falls rate is likely to be linked to the highpercentage of elderly people in the South Lakeland population and, given thelarge predicted rates of future population change in the over 65 age group it isalso likely to increase in the future without effective measures in place toreduce the number of falls.One of the aims of The National Service Framework for Older people(Department of Health, 2001) is to reduce the number of falls which result inserious injury and ensure effective treatment and rehabilitation for those whohave fallen. This is to be done through 3 primary areas:• Prevention including the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis• Improving the diagnosis, care and treatment of those who have fallen• Rehabilitation and long-term support.Figure 28.4) Mortality from falls, all ages, 2005-2007. Directly age standardised rates(per 100,000 European standard population. 95% upper and lower confidence limitindicated by error bars. Data source: NCHOD16.0014.0012.0010.00DSR8.006.004.002.000.00Copeland Allerdale Carlisle Eden Barrow-in-FurnessSouthLakelandCUMBRIAENGLANDANDWALESMale Female AllSouth Lakeland Baseline Assessment 2009 56