MPs: Overloaded GPs in England failing to assess fall risk for older patients
7 reported
The House of Commons public accounts committee has reported that GPs in England are too overloaded to help older people at risk of falling, a failure NHS bosses have accepted as unacceptable. The cross-party committee found that pressure on GPs 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, cause tens of thousands of hip fractures, and cost the UK an estimated £4.4bn a year. During 2024/25, only 17% of patients over 65 with moderate or severe frailty were assessed, despite contractual obligations. Only 18% of the 226,000 people diagnosed with severe frailty that year were assessed for fall risk, and only 16% underwent medication reviews. The committee stated that NHS England has overloaded GPs with new priorities, and NHS bosses giving evidence admitted the situation was “not acceptable.”
What’s reported
The House of Commons public accounts committee reported that GPs in England are too overloaded to help older people at risk of falling.
NHS bosses who gave evidence to the committee admitted the position was “not acceptable.”
Falls are the most common cause of death from injury among over-65s and cost the UK an estimated £4.4bn a year.
During 2024/25, only 17% of patients over 65 with moderate or severe frailty were assessed.
Of 226,000 people diagnosed with severe frailty that year, only 18% were assessed for fall risk and only 16% underwent medication reviews.
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 England is considering whether other health professionals, such as pharmacists, could take on some frailty-related work.
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
Sources: The Guardian
