Principal Investigator: Dr Sara McKelvie, GP & NIHR Clinical Lecturer at the Primary Care Research Centre, University of Southampton.

Team members:

Lois Woods, Southampton Health Technology Asessments Centre, University of Southampton.

Dr Rachel Dewar-Haggart, Primary Care Research Centre, University of Southampton.

Professor Peter Griffiths, Health Sciences, University of Southampton

Associate Clinical Professor Jacqui Prieto, Health Sciences, University of Southampton

Dr Dan Baylis, Chief Medical Officer, NHS Solent Foundation Trust

Dr Syed Hasan, Clinical Lead for Virtual Wards, NHS England

Dr Elizabeth Angier, PhD student

Main funding: NIHR School For Primary Care Research

Starts: 1 April 2024

Ends: 31 March 2026

Summary

Each year 30% of older people living in the community fall and are often taken to hospital for assessment. National guidelines recommend that after a fall, older people have a thorough check up and help to prevent further falls. We currently don’t know what the best assessment is for older people who fall and are assessed at home.

There are several health services which can assess people in the community without a hospital visit. These can be described as “Community Alternatives to aCute Hospitalisation” (CAtCH) services. In different areas in the country these services have different team members, resources and ways of working. Research is needed who and what is needed to work in CAtCH services, particularly to support older people who have fallen.

This study plans to look at previous work in this area by looking at published articles, service reports, government documents and internet resources to find out what is essential for these services. We also plan to survey and interview people who work in CAtCH services in the UK to understand what is available for older people who have fallen. The research findings will be used to develop resources for patients, the public and healthcare workers to showcase CAtCH services. The team also plan to produce a report for healthcare commissioners and support policy-makers. It will also allow the team to apply for further research funding in this area including further projects to look at public awareness of CAtCH.