MPs: GPs Too Overloaded for Fall Prevention Care in England
A House of Commons committee has reported that GPs in England are too overloaded to help older people at risk of falling, a failure that NHS bosses accept as unacceptable. The public accounts committee found that pressure on GP time has intensified due to the government’s decision to give patients online access to services. Falls are the most common cause of death from injury among over-65s and cost the UK an estimated £4.4 billion per year. Under their contract, family doctors are required to identify, assess, and support over-65s with moderate or severe frailty, but many GPs cannot deliver these requirements. During 2024/25 only 17% of those patients were assessed. Of the 226,000 people diagnosed with severe frailty that year, only 18% were assessed for fall risk and 16% underwent a medication review. The committee stated that NHS England had overloaded GPs with new priorities, and NHS bosses who gave evidence admitted the situation was not acceptable. NHS England is exploring whether other health professionals, such as pharmacists, could take on some of this work.
What’s reported
The House of Commons public accounts committee said GPs in England are too “overloaded” to help older people at risk of falling.
The committee attributed the pressure to the government’s decision to give patients online access to GP services.
Falls are the most common cause of death from injury among people over 65, cause tens of thousands of hip fractures, and cost the UK an estimated £4.4bn a year.
GPs are contractually obliged to identify, assess, and support over-65s with moderate or severe frailty, but many cannot deliver.
During 2024/25, only 17% of those patients were assessed.
Of 226,000 diagnosed with severe frailty that year, 18% were assessed for fall risk and 16% had a medication review.
Almost one in three local NHS areas assess fewer than 10% of over-65s for frailty and fall risk, while nine areas assess at least 90%.
NHS bosses who gave evidence admitted the situation was “not acceptable”.
Prof Victoria Tzortziou Brown, president of the Royal College of GPs, said the report vindicated warnings about unintended consequences of prioritizing online access.
NHS England is looking into having other health professionals, such as pharmacists, conduct medication reviews for frail older people.
Key figures
House of Commons public accounts committee (cross-party group of MPs)
Prof Victoria Tzortziou Brown, president of the Royal College of GPs
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK
NHS England (noted as having been approached for comment)
Sources: The Guardian
