Information on this page will be useful for people who live in Edinburgh.
What to do after a fall
NHS Lothian Falls Support page is for practical support and advice to help reduce the risk of falls.
Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership (EHSCP) Community Falls Prevention and Management Pathway
The Pathway has been designed to support early identification and offer helpful management for individuals who are at risk of harm from falls.
Falls can happen to anyone, but there’s a lot you can do to stay active, confident, and safe. Whether you’ve had a fall before or just want to reduce your risk, Edinburgh’s Falls Prevention Pathway is here to support you.
A message from Hannah Cairns, Chief Allied Health Professional at Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership (May 2025)
In Edinburgh we use a screening tool to assess a person’s risk of falling and experiencing harm due to a fall, so we have offer targeted practical self-management information, support and care that will help reduce falls risk.
Screening will identify if a person is a person’s risk level into one of the following levels:
- Level 0 – Very low risk
- Level 1 – Low risk
- Level 2 – Moderate risk
- Level 3 – High risk
Once a person’s risk level has been identified they can access information, care and support set out in the Edinburgh Falls Care Bundles (see below).
The Falls Care Bundles were developed to directly link to the risk levels identified by the Screening Tool. The Falls Care Bundles offer practical information and interventions to improv care and outcomes.
The Falls Care Bundles are designed to build each other. So, if someone is identified as being at ‘Moderate Risk’ they may also find some of the information for those identified as being at ‘Very Low’ and ‘Low Risk’ helpful.
Enquire About Falls Screening
If you would like to contact us about falls screening, you can get in touch:
Social Care Direct
Website: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/social-care-health/ask-social-care-direct-advice-2
Email: socialcaredirect@edinburgh.gov.uk
Call: 0131 200 2324
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 08.30 – 17:00, and Fridays 08.30 – 15.55
Falls Care Bundles
Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership (EHSCP) has created Falls Care Bundles which focus on fall prevention and early intervention.
Care Pathway for Falls Level 0 (Very Low Risk) – Signposting to Public Health Information
Information
NHS Inform National Health Information Service, giving quality-assured health information to the people of Scotland.
Health and Wellbeing
Physical Activity and Exercise
Care Pathway for Level 1 (Low Risk of Avoidable Harm) – Falls Care Bundle 1
Information
Social Care Direct
Contact Social Care Direct Team if help and support to live independently at home is needed. The Social Care Direct Team will assist on establishing contact with the best team that may help.
NHS Inform
Age Concern Scotland
Physical Activity and Exercise
- Strength and Balance Exercises
- Walking Scotland: Paths to Health
- Health Scotland Up and About booklet
- Get up and Go – A Guide to staying steady
- Age concern Scotland – Keeping Active in Later Life
Edinburgh Leisure
- Balanced Life
- Active Balance
- Ground Balance
- Dynamic Balance
Health and Well Being
Podiatry Self Referral
Care Pathway for Level 2 (Moderate of Avoidable Harm) – Falls Care Bundle 2
Physical Activity and Exercise
Edinburgh Leisure
- Balanced Life
- Balance Plus
- Referral Portal
Health and Well Being
Provision of small aids/equipment provision
- Walking Aid: Self referral – Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership
- Self referral for a walking aid assessment at the Disabled Living Centre
Referral to Physiotherapy / Occupational Therapy for targeted exercises and / or equipment provision
- Living Independently
- EHSCP Physiotherapy
- For specialist services that do not offer self-referral, e.g. Orthotics, Audiology, etc, If assistance to obtain a referral to these services, please engage with your / a healthcare practitioner.
Environment
- Self referral for:
- Community equipment and minor adaptations
- Handrails and ramps: Care and Repair
Referral for Telecare Service Community Alarm and Assistive Technology Enabled Care
- Telecare Service – Edinburgh Health and Social Care Partnership
- Assistive Technology Enabled Care 24
Care Pathway for Level 3 (High Immediate Risk of Harm)
For people identified as High Risk of falls (Level 3), we recommend they have a falls multifactorial assessment (an MFA) with a healthcare professional.
This is a thorough check-up that looks at several factors that could be contributing to falls, such as your health, medications, environment, and physical abilities. It can help identify areas where you might need extra support to reduce the risk of falling.
To enquire about arranging an appointment for an MFA with a health care professional please contact:
Social Care Direct
Website: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/social-care-health/ask-social-care-direct-advice-2
Email: socialcaredirect@edinburgh.gov.uk
Call: 0131 200 2324
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday 08.30 – 17:00, and Fridays 08.30 – 15.55
