Ambulance calls for falls within the home

Summary

A request was made for statistics on 999 ambulance calls for elderly residents falling at home, specifically asking for cases with no injury or hospital conveyance. The authority disclosed that age and exact location data are not captured, but provided total fall call statistics and the number of calls resulting in no conveyance for the period May 2017 to May 2018.

Key Facts

• The Ambulance Service does not capture the age of the patient, preventing specific data on 'elderly' residents.
• Call data is based on information given by the caller rather than confirmed scene findings.
• Ambulance records the location of the emergency call, which may not be the patient's home address.
• The response covers the period from 1st May 2017 to 31st May 2018.
• 706 calls were closed as 'Lift Up Only' or 'Vehicle Not Required', indicating no conveyance to hospital.

Data Disclosed

• 1941
• 706
• 1st May 2017
• 31st May 2018
• 2018-06-11
• 2018-06-21
• 501634

Original Request

How many 999 calls were made to the Isle of Man Ambulance Service for elderly residents falling within their homes, within the last year. Of the above amount, how many of these cases were not injured and did not result in being taken to hospital by paramedics.

Data Tables (1)

Data Tables (reformatted)

Full Response Text

Chief Executive: Malcolm Couch Freedom of Information Team DHSC Digital Cronk Coar Strang IM4 4RJ

(01624) 642621 dhsc@foi.gov.im Website: www.gov.im/dhsc

Our ref: 501634 21 June 2018

Dear ###

We write further to your request which was received on 11 June 2018 and which states:

"How many 999 calls were made to the Isle of Man Ambulance Service for elderly residents falling within their homes, within the last year. Of the above amount, how many of these cases were not injured and did not result in being taken to hospital by paramedics."

Our response to your request is as follows: • Data for the Ambulance Service is taken from the Emergency Services Joint Control Room (ESJCR). This is based on the information given by the caller, not necessarily what was actually found at the scene. • The Ambulance Service do not capture the age of the patient. • The Ambulance goes to the scene of the emergency call. This may not be the patient’s home address. The Ambulance Service records the location of the emergency e.g. in the street, then the address closest to that location is recorded. With reference to the above, we are pleased to provide the statistics below: For the period 1st May 2017 to 31st May 2018: o Number of calls classified by ESJCR as “Falls” = 1941 o Number of Calls closed as Lift Up Only or Vehicle Not Required, both meaning No Conveyance = 706

Please quote the reference number 501634 in any future communications.

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Yours sincerely