Issue - meetings

Report by Maggie Rae, Corporate Director for Public Health and Public Protection.

Cllr Keith Humphries, Cabinet member for Public Health and Protection Services presented an updated Falls and Bone Health Strategy for the period 2012-2014 for Cabinet’s consideration.

The main aims of the Falls and Bone Health Strategy were to:

• Improve falls and fracture services used by Wiltshire residents and ensure that services responded to the needs of older people,
• Halt the rising number of falls and related injuries experienced by older people each year,
• Meet local and national targets on falls and fracture prevention
• Support older people to access a wide range of community resources.

The Wiltshire strategy action plan had been developed using national and local information on falls, fractures and osteoporosis.

In addition consultation with key stakeholders had developed the priority areas for local action. The Strategy was being launched for public consultation during falls awareness week (18-22 June). A suggestion was made that the Strategy and action plan should be considered by the Health and Wellbeing Board to ensure a joined up approach and by the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee.

A discussion ensued on the need for medical practitioners to document the different causes of falls.  This would provide data on how many falls were attributed to poor pavement quality following works by utility companies to strengthen the Council’s argument in its representations to Government over funding.  Cllr Tonge, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport advised that inspections after such works were carried out and utility companies required to make improvements where necessary or face the imposition of fines.

Maggie Rae, Corporate Director of Public Health and Public Protection explained the main causes of osteoporosis and the need for preventative measures being taken earlier. She also emphasised the need to align this with the leisure strategy.

Resolved:

That Cabinet :

(i)           notes this update of the strategy and

(ii)          agrees the key areas for action

Reason for decision

The Falls and Bone Health Strategy is crucial to enable a reduction in falls and falls related injuries. This strategy is an update of the Wiltshire Falls and Bone Health Strategy which was published in 2009. It is expected that the 2012 strategy will remain valid for two years.