LiveWire Warrington in partnership with the Warrington healthcare professional’s network
Overview
Early identification and support to those who are at risk of having a fall in Warrington can be inconsistent and there are some clear gaps in the system. The Falls Multifactorial Assessment Tool (FRAT) recommended by NICE has been established for several years but is very detailed. Consequently GP’s, clinicians, and other healthcare professionals across systems in Warrington sometimes struggle to complete it due to the length of time required.
Aims & objectives of the service:
- Early access to a supportive service
- Increase the number and proportion of those at risk of a fall that have a full FRAT
- Reduced risk of falls
- Reduced risk of admission to hospital following an injury related fall
- Ensure patients are supported with shared decision making when making treatment decisions.
Actions taken
The way FRAT was utilised across the Warrington system needed to change. This led to the development of a Falls Risk Initial Screening Tool for use across the system and a FRAT onward referral service embedded within the Lifestyles Service at LiveWire Warrington that would carry out a full FRAT assessment.
The service will, on receipt of an initial screening tool referral, contact the patient and organise an appointment to complete a full Multifactorial Falls Risk Assessment (FRAT) after which the patient will be referred onward to strength based exercise classes and other partner organisations and services in the town as appropriate depending on the assessment results with a goal to reduce the risk of the patient having a fall.
Outcomes
Between November 2021 and June 2022 the FRAT Onward Referral Service received 224 referrals for various health professional in the town with 92% attending their initial assessment. 69% of patients were invited to LiveWire’s ‘Stay On Your Feet’ falls prevention 8 week exercise class.
Complimenting this, those who decided or preferred to exercise at home were sent an exercise at home booklet and resistance band to safety exercise at home.
Separate from referring patients for exercise support other modes/onward referrals included the following services in the town:
- Community Falls & Rehabilitation Service
- Frailty Assessment Unit – Warrington Hospital
- Warrington Disability Partnership
- Warrington Home Improvement Agency
- Good Neighbours – Warrington Voluntary Action
- First Response – Adult Social Care
Results and benefits
One particular lady who was referred by her GP was contacted by The FRAT onward Referral team and based on the assessment results ‘Moderate risk of having a fall’ the following support was implemented:
- Completed the Stay On Your Feet Exercise programme demonstrating improvements in balance on completion of the programme.
- An onward referral to the Warrington Home Improvement Agency was made and the patient has been successful in a grant to provide handrails at the front/back door at their property and also in the bathroom.
- Contact details to a free community bus service in her local area which she has used to take them to medical appointments
The patient commented:
“I am so grateful for the support the FRAT service has provided for me, I have completed an exercise class, now waiting for some home improvements to be made to my house to help with little things like getting in and out of the bath and I am using a community bus service that I didn’t know about which is fantastic and getting me out and about”
