Case study: Response team help to relieve pressures on Welsh Ambulance Service
The situation:
Delta Wellbeing’s response team received a request from the Welsh Ambulance Service asking for support with an older resident who had fallen. The man lived with his wife who was his main carer, however, she could not lift him to his feet. The man did not have a lifeline and there were no ambulances available at the time. The man was lying on the cold kitchen floor and faced a long wait for an ambulance to attend.
The solution:
With no ambulances available, the Welsh Ambulance Service arranged for Delta Wellbeing’s response team to be dispatched. The response team arrived within 45 minutes and carried out *ISTUMBLE protocols. The team completed a set of observations to make sure the man was not suffering any injuries because of the fall, and then used specialist lifting equipment (Raizer chair) to safely help him off the floor. The ambulance service was updated throughout the visit, and the ambulance was stood down.
*ISTUMBLE is a post fall assessment tool that is used to carry out a health assessment.
The outcome:
The man was very grateful that the team assisted, and following the incident, he decided to install Delta Wellbeing’s full wrap-around CONNECT service, which includes a lifeline and 24/7 access to the response team in times of crisis, providing peace of mind knowing that he can press the button at any time if he were to fall again, and not have to worry about suffering a long lay and potentially being conveyed to hospital, where he would be away from him wife.
Response Manager Sarah said:
“The service responds to calls for non-medical emergencies, avoiding inappropriate hospital admission and use of ambulances, ensuring clients who suffer a fall at home are not impacted significantly by lying on the floor for a long time. Research shows that the impact of falling can have a negative effect on independence and quality of life, and someone left lying on the floor for over an hour is more likely to suffer serious injuries and be admitted to hospital. Being able to attend within one hour and lift clients off the floor not only provides them with the best outcomes but can also have a significant impact on reducing and, in some cases, stopping the need for ongoing support and care.”