A digital platform designed to help people at risk of falling is moving into the third phase of its trial, with the ambition to eventually be rolled out across Scotland.
The No Need to Fall project has been co-designed by people with lived experience of falls, and the health and care staff who support them.
Its effectiveness is currently being researched as part of a trial with 20 patients in Lanarkshire, in the hope it can eventually be rolled out further across the West of Scotland and nationally.
The project, which started in September 2023 and will run until the end of 2025, explores how technology can be used to address and improve people’s daily care and support needs, and the response if and when there is an incident.
Chaloner Chute, chief technology officer at Digital Health & Care Innovation Centre, said: “This project is helping us understand how to support effective self-management for those at risk of falls.
“Digital tools will allow us to better integrate support between the person, their family and other informal or formal care and support providers.
“This should help us keep people thriving and independent in their own homes for longer and reduce pressures on strained public services.”
During the latest phase, a digital space will be provided for people to have information about themselves stored in ways that are secure and only they control in a personal data store.
Information will include their circle of care, preferences, values and emergency contacts, and the individual can then decide whether to share parts or all of the information with the teams they interact with.
They will also be provided with a website which gives personalised community support and guidance.
The aim of the model is to help people better co-manage their health and care and to access support that allows them to stay well, and No Need To Fall also enables appropriate responses in the event of a fall.
No Need To Fall is being managed through the West of Scotland Innovation Hub (WoSIH), which is hosted by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde in partnership with West of Scotland health boards in Lanarkshire, Ayrshire and Arran, Dumfries and Galloway and Forth Valley.
Dr Ana Talbot, WoSIH innovation fellow for frailty and falls and consultant in older adult edmicine with NHS Lanarkshire, said “As we move into phase three, we will trial a personal data store to shape and tailor the support offered.
“In collaboration with partner organisations, I am pleased we are moving forward with the next stage of this project to improve outcomes for people with the highest risk of falls.”
In March 2025, it was announced that a predictive AI tool, developed by Cera, is being rolled out by across the NHS, which can predict a patient’s risk of falling with 97% accuracy, preventing up to 2,000 falls and hospital admissions each day.