Falls account for up to 20 per cent of calls to the ambulance service - and a new partnership has been launched for people to get the help they need more efficiently. 

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service and the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust are trying a 12-month pilot dedicated to responding to fall-related calls.  

Four Community Wellbeing Officers will work across the county as part of an initiative which will help people back on their feet if they don’t require hospital treatment.  

It is also hoped to free up ambulance crews.  

Cambridgeshire Fire Service Station Commander Scott Fretwell, Community Risk Manager said: “The collaboration will help to save lives, enhance patient experience and subsequently improve community welfare.   

“When they are not responding to calls, the Community Wellbeing Officers will be visiting homes of the most vulnerable people in our communities to help them stay safe from fire and other risks such as slips and falls.” 

The Community Wellbeing Officers completed a three-week emergency responder training with the ambulance service to learn the skills required for their role. 

While some patients who fall will require hospital treatment, many simply need to be helped back on their feet and checked over to make sure they can stay at home.  

At the moment, if a person falls at home and has no injuries they can have a long wait for an ambulance to become available.  

This new partnership aims to send a Community Wellbeing Officer out within an hour of a 999 or 101 call if the individual has no injuries. 

Tom Barker, EEAST Community Response Manager said: “I am confident that this programme will see real benefits... 

“... not only for the ambulance service, but more importantly to our vulnerable members of our community who we want to make sure are safe in their homes.”