Scheme set up in Norfolk to help elderly people who suffer from falls

Sue McDowell is hoping that after the scheme has been piloted, it could be put in place nationally

A carer is setting up a community scheme to help elderly people get back on their feet after a fall.

Sue McDowell from Dersingham, Norfolk came up with her idea after her mum spent hours waiting for an ambulance.

She wants to create a team can respond to people who would normally be considered as a low priority case for other health services.

She said: "There is so much work about falls prevention but there isn't a lot of work on post-falls pick up."

She has ambitions to open hubs with trained volunteers across west Norfolk and would like to see the model rolled out nationally.

"You can prevent falls as much as you like but when you've got someone like mum she's going to fall no matter what you do," she added.

'Local people picking up local people'

With the help of parish councils and a team of trained volunteers, she has ambitions to develop "hubs" in the north, south, east and west of the borough.

She said: "We will have a hub in each of the three towns in west Norfolk and that hub will recruit with the support of the project volunteers.

"There's lot of training that we need for these volunteers before they could go out and do any work."

The project will be piloted for six months with the support of private company Felgains, which has offered 11 specialist chairs.

By working alongside parish councils to set up the scheme in communities Ms McDowell hopes to make sure it is "local people picking up local people".

Norfolk County Council already has a 24 hour SWIFT service for elderly people and those needing support which is not from the emergency services.