Falls prevention service

The service is accessible to all adults (18 years old +), and patients who are registered with a Barnet GP practice and live within Barnet borders.

An integrated and seamless service is provided with the aim of reducing the risk of falls, and the number of hospital admissions and enabling greater independence. 

Service provided

Barnet Falls Service identifies patients susceptible to falls and supports patients and carers in managing osteoporosis, strengthening, self-care, and making innovative use of community services.

The services provided are:
• Falls clinic assessments/treatment
• Home visit assessment/treatment by assistants or therapists as appropriate
• Falls group exercise classes and falls education classes.

Based on an individual's needs, The Falls Therapy Clinic, risk assessments, and therapy reviews may be offered by the CLCH Trust Community Therapy Service. 

The Team

The service is provided by physiotherapists, occupational therapists, clinical assistants, registered nurses and other health professionals.

Clinic hours

The clinic will be open from 9.00 am to 5.00 p.m, Monday to Friday by appointment only.

Messages can be left with the Administration/SPA team during those hours.

Home visits are available for home environment assessments and for dementia sufferers.

Referrals

Who can refer 

• Healthcare professionals
• Carers
• Patient self-referral 

Inclusion

• 18 years and over
• Barnet GP registered
• Patients with a history of falls, osteoporosis and problems with balance
• The patient is medically stable and independently mobile with or without a walking aid

Exclusion

• Medically unstable, acute uncontrolled mental health issues or problems, preventing engagement in therapy, newly diagnosed/active neurological conditions including strokes.
• A patient with Parkinson's disease to be referred to our specialist Parkinson's Unit. 

How to self-refer 

Carers and Patients: By conducting a self-triage assessment for yourself or on behalf of someone whom you wish to refer. Providing you meet the criteria for self-referral you will be able to access the service directly. Please follow the guidance in the self-referral pre-referral checklist.

Self- Referral form 

If prompted to do so, please complete a referral form.

If you are unable to complete a self-referral form digitally by yourself or with support at home, you can contact the Single Point of Access (SPA) via telephone who will be able to provide you with administrative support to do so. You can do this by contacting the SPA number provided below. 

PLEASE NOTE SPA will NOT be able to provide clinical guidance. If you require clinical support or guidance please contact your GP in the first instance.

Contact information

Single Point of Access Email: clcht.barnetselfreferral@nhs.net
Single Point of Access Tel: 0300 020 0655 - Opt 1

Our falls service works in the community to support people at risk of falls by helping them to maintain active and independent lives.

We provide assessment, advice, and exercise to older people who are at risk of falling to avoid fall-related injuries, unnecessary hospital admissions, and premature transfer to long-term care.

We offer a range of services focusing on:

• Investigating the cause of your falls
• Assessing your home environment
• Developing an action plan to help prevent falls in the future
• Group exercise and education classes

This service is for Brent residents over 65 years of age who:

• Have a fear of falling
• Have a history of falls or near misses,
• Lack confidence in their balance and walking
• Have a diagnosis of osteoporosis or fragility fracture

Home visits are available for this service.

Read our patient information leaflet

Referrals

Who can refer 

• Healthcare professionals
• Carers
• Patient self-referral 

Inclusion/exclusion 

Please review the criteria below before sending a referral:
Patients experiencing falls
Carers on behalf of patients experiencing falls

How to self-refer 

Carers and Patients: By conducting a self-triage assessment for yourself or on behalf of someone whom you wish to refer. Providing you meet the criteria for self-referral you will be able to access the service directly. Please follow the guidance in the self-referral pre-referral checklist.

Self- Referral form 

If prompted to do so, please complete a referral form.

If you are unable to complete a self-referral form digitally by yourself or with support at home, you can contact the Single Point of Access (SPA) via telephone who will be able to provide you with administrative support to do so. You can do this by contacting the SPA number provided below. 

PLEASE NOTE SPA will NOT be able to provide clinical guidance. If you require clinical support or guidance please contact your GP in the first instance.

Contact information

Single Point of Access Email: clcht.brentfalls@nhs.net
Single Point of Access Tel: 0300 555 8889 - Opt 4"

Provides assessment, advice, exercise, and strength and balance groups for older people who are at risk of falling.

The service aims to prevent falls and unnecessary admission to hospital by seeing a patient before an injurious fall occurs or after a fall to rebuild strength, balance, and confidence.

Read our patient information leaflet.

Referrals

Who can refer 

• Healthcare professionals
• Carers
• Patients can self-refer

Inclusion/exclusion criteria

Please review the criteria below before referring:

Adults with a GP in Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham or Kensington & Chelsea who are…

• Medically fit and well
• Falling or at risk of falls
• Able and willing to engage in a group physical activity programme
• Likely to benefit from a group physical activity programme

Exclusion

Adults who:

• Cannot leave their home easily
• Are at risk of imminent hospitalisation due to falls
• Fall due to alcohol or substance misuse
• Are unable to follow instructions
• Have an unstable mental health condition
• Are unwilling or unable to engage in a group physical activity programme

Professional Referral form

Our latest referral form

How to self-refer 

Carers/Patients: By conducting a self-triage assessment for yourself or on behalf of someone whom you wish to refer. Providing you meet the criteria for self-referral you will be able to access the service directly. Please follow the guidance in the self-referral pre-referral checklist.

Self-Referral Form 

Please proceed to complete a referral form if the checklist prompts you to do so.

If you are unable to complete a self-referral form digitally by yourself or with support at home, you can contact the Single Point of Access (SPA) via telephone who will be able to provide you with administrative support to do so. You can do this by contacting the SPA number provided below. 

PLEASE NOTE SPA will NOT be able to provide clinical guidance. If you require clinical support or guidance please contact your GP in the first instance.

Contact information 
Single Point of Access Email: clcht.spa@nhs.net
Single Point of Access Tel: 0208 102 5555 - Opt 0
(Lines open Monday - Friday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm) 

"Specialist physiotherapists encourage active ageing and independence through home response assessment. 

Home response visits are offered in the first instance by a specialist physiotherapist who undertakes a falls risk assessment and will give help and advice including a personalised home exercise programme and basic equipment provision. 

Patients are seen in their place of residence between 9:00 am and 4:00 p.m.

Staying Steady falls prevention exercise and advice classes are run in a community setting; these are time-limited, ability ability-graded with outcome measures. Staying steady exercise and advice classes are held at Nelson Healthcentre. There is an Otago home exercise programme for those not eligible for the class.

Public Health role promotes information to prevent falls and unnecessary visits to hospital.

The service has community partnerships with the London Ambulance Service, the London Fire Brigade, social services and voluntary agencies.

The falls prevention service is part of the integrated adult therapies service. It works closely with colleagues from HARI (Assessment and Rehabilitation) and MERIT urgent (prevention of admission).

There are also strong links with the domiciliary physiotherapy teams and the neuro-rehabilitation team.

Patients can find out more about the service via the Merton Single Point of Access (SPA) team on 0333 241 4242.

Referrals

Who can refer:

• Healthcare professionals
• Carers
• Patients can self-refer

Inclusion/exclusion criteria

Please review before referring:

Inclusion criteria:

• Adults over 18 with a GP in Merton
• Must have had a fall, potential to fall or a fear of falling in the last 12 months
• Must be mobile with or without a walking aid
• Must be medically stable and uninjured

Exclusion criteria

Already receiving physiotherapy or has rehabilitation needs

• No falls from heights
• No falls relating to substance misuse

Professional referral form

Our latest referral form

How to self-refer

Carers/Patients: By conducting a self-triage assessment for yourself or on behalf of someone whom you wish to refer. Providing you meet the criteria for self-referral you will be able to access the service directly. Please follow the guidance in the self-referral pre-referral checklist

Self-referral form

Please proceed to complete a referral form if the checklist prompts you to do so.

If you are unable to complete a self-referral form digitally by yourself or with support at home, you can contact the Single Point of Access (SPA) via telephone who will be able to provide you with administrative support to do so. You can do this by contacting the SPA number provided below. 

PLEASE NOTE SPA will NOT be able to provide clinical guidance. If you require clinical support or guidance please contact your GP in the first instance.

Contact information 

Single Point of Access Email: clcht.mertonspa@nhs.net
Single Point of Access Tel: 0333 004 7555 - Opt 1 Routine referral