Last Updated: July 28, 2025
Hospitals across the UK saw an increase in hospitalisation due to falls. A new report has revealed that ambulance services respond to approximately 700,000 emergency calls for falls among patients ages 65 and over between 2022 and 2024.
In 2024, there were over 284,280 ambulance callouts and 50,000 hospital admissions for fall-related emergencies among over-65-year-olds across the NHS. A Freedom of Information request to local NHS trusts and ambulance services was made by Opera Beds, an assistive technology provider, with the aim of finding out which trusts have seen the biggest spikes in fall-related emergency admissions for over 65s within the last three years. They received responses from 21 NHS trusts and 7 ambulance services across the UK.
According to the information released under the freedom of information requests the South East Coast Ambulance Service, which covers Brighton & Hove, West Sussex and Kent among others, has seen the largest increase in fall-related callouts for individuals over the age of 65. In the past three years, paramedics have been called out to nearly 1.3 million incidents involving people aged 65 and over. Over 165,000 of these were fall-related emergencies.
Roughly 90% of NHS trusts in the UK have seen an increase in emergency hospital admissions for over 65s since 2022, with 57% having seen an increase in fall-related admissions according to the data received by Opera Beds.
In the UK, over 3.3 million ambulance callouts were made for over 65s last year.
Dr Tim Mercer, NHS GP Partner & GP Trainer with Opera Beds, said, ‘As we get older, the risk of having a fall increases and unfortunately, so do the chances of injury. A bad fall can lead to loss of confidence, time in hospital, or in some cases, serious complications like hip fracture. […] If you’re concerned about a parent or relative who’s had a fall or seems unsteady, please speak to their GP surgery. There are lots of options available to keep them safe and independent for longer. Preventing falls isn’t just about avoiding injury; it’s about helping people stay active, confident, and in control of their lives.’
If you would like to find out more about ways to improve the safety of your home, you can take a look at the regional directory for your area or read through our latest blog post about home improvements for elderly safety.
The full report is available to read, here.
In other news, a bill to reform Universal Credit and PIP has been proposed.
