Falls in the Elderly: UK 65+ Injury and Accident Statistics

1. Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust - 53% increase in fall-related emergency admissions for over 65s since 2022

Last year, Barking, Havering, and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust staff saw 53% more over-65s admitted to hospital after a fall than in 2022. This is a bigger change in cases than any other NHS Trust on this ranking has experienced.

2. Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust - 27% increase in fall-related emergency admissions for over 65s since 2022

Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust appears next. From 1,295 fall-related emergency admissions in 2022 to more than 1,600 last year, this NHS Trust has treated 27% more elderly patients for falls in the previous three years, the second-highest increase in this rank.

3. Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust - 20% increase in fall-related emergency admissions for over 65s since 2022

The Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust comprises five north-west London hospitals and is third in this ranking. This NHS Trust is also home to outpatient clinics that help older people who have experienced falls. Facilities like this can offer specialist care for the thousands of fall-related patients treated here annually.

More than half of all home-related falls for over 65s are due to slipping, tripping and stumbling on the same level

The home can present many trip hazards, from the bathroom to the bedroom, which are even more detrimental to older adults. To determine which areas of the home result in the most emergency fall hospital admissions, we have compared the figures from 7 FOI responses.

Most common fall-related accidents for over 65s in the UK

1. Fall on the same level from slipping, tripping and stumbling - 54.48% of all home-related falls for over 65s

A fall on the same level occurs when someone loses balance without falling from a height. Common examples of this happening in your house include slipping on a loose mat, tripping on a cable, or stumbling over an item on the ground. With so many potential hazards, it may be unsurprising that this type of fall is the most common accident for over-65s in the UK, making up more than half of all incidents.

2. Fall on and from stairs and steps - 20.16% of all home-related falls for over 65s

Falling on stairs and steps is the second most common cause of fall-related hospital admissions in those aged 65 and over. This type of fall can result from tumbling up or down stairs, whether due to a misjudgement of depth or losing balance on a step. The best way to avoid this type of fall is to take your time when ascending or descending and use handrails where possible.

3. Fall involving bed - 14.76% of all home-related falls for over 65s

While your bed is often a place of rest and recovery, it can sometimes cause a hospital visit. Since 2022, this has been the case for almost 15% of all home-related falls for those over 65. From rolling off the bed during sleep to falling when trying to get in and out of bed, older people are more prone to this type of accident.

Over 65s at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust are spending nearly 19 days on average to recover from a fall

As highlighted above, the number of fall-related hospital admissions is increasing in many areas of the UK. However, the FOI data shows that the length of time spent in the hospital by over-65s has slowly decreased between 2022 (12.7 days) and 2024 (11.8 days). Below is a list of the longest hospital stays by NHS Trust, based on 12 FOI responses.

NHS Trusts with the longest median length of stay for falls in over 65s between 2022-2024

1. Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust - 18.7 day average median stay for fall-related emergency admissions for over 65s

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust has seen more than 4,700 fall-related emergency admissions since 2022, and the average median length of stay across admissions is higher here than in any other NHS Trust. When broken down by year, the average median stay for over 65 fall-related emergency stays was a whole day less in 2024 (17 days) than in 2023 (18 days) and four days less than in 2022 (21 days).

2. Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust - 15.2 day average median stay for fall-related emergency admissions for over 65s

When looking at data between 2022 and 2024, the median length of stay for over 65 fall-related emergency admissions at Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is 15.2 days. This is three days more than the national average (12.1 days) and the second-longest average stay of all the entries on this ranking.

3. Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust - 14.7 day average median stay for fall-related emergency admissions for over 65s

While Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has seen a significantly higher number of over-65s needing emergency hospital admission for falls than others in this rank, the average median length of stay for patients is lower than both Manchester University NHS Foundation and Hull University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trusts. Across the 14,821 related incidents since 2022, the average length of stay is just over two weeks.

The South East Coast Ambulance Service has recorded almost 1.3 million ambulance callouts for over 65s since 2022

Whether you need urgent medical care or don’t have anyone to help you after an accident, the ambulance service provides life-saving care to many, and over-65s are no exception. The following table reveals which UK ambulance services have experienced the most medical callouts since 2022, based on FOI responses from 11 out of 14 NHS ambulance trusts.

UK ambulance services experiencing the most callouts for over 65s between 2022-2024

1. South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust - 1.29 million ambulance callouts for over 65s since 2022

The South East Coast Ambulance Service covers Brighton & Hove, West Sussex, Kent, among others. Over the last three years, paramedics have been called out to almost 1.3 million incidents involving people aged 65+. More than 471,000 of these callouts happened in the last year alone.

2. East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust - 1.25 million ambulance callouts for over 65s since 2022

With more than 1.25 million ambulance callouts for over 65s between 2022 and 2024, the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust appears next. To reduce hospital admissions, this Trust has rolled out a ‘Virtual Ward Service’ in Suffolk and northeast Essex. By monitoring patients who need support but can stay at home, this care means that people can stay in the comfort of their beds.

3. London Ambulance Service NHS Trust - 1.22 million ambulance callouts for over 65s since 2022

Despite being the UK’s busiest emergency ambulance service³, the London Ambulance Service NHS Trust appears third on this ranking. Since 2022, there have been just over 1.2 million callouts for incidents involving people aged 65 and over, and this figure has grown steadily between 2022 (395,085) and 2024 (425,352).

Average ambulance response times in England

Category 2 ambulance calls encompass any serious but not life-threatening conditions —these can include strokes, chest pain, and epileptic seizures. As of April 2025, the average ambulance response time across England for this type of call is just over 27 and a half minutes.

When broken down by region, more than 60% of English ambulance services perform quicker than the national average, with North East (20 mins 22), West Midlands (21 mins 39) and South Central (22 mins 44) ambulance services occupying the fastest average response times.

Conversely, the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust’s average response time (36 mins 39) is almost ten minutes longer than the national mean, and the longest of all English ambulance services.

Methodology

Two Freedom of Information (FOI) requests were used to find the state of injuries and accidents older adults suffer in the UK.

The first seeding list comprised the 75 biggest NHS trusts based on catchment population. We asked for the following data:

●       The total number of emergency hospital admissions for people aged 65 and over.

●       The total number of these emergency admissions that involved the patient arriving via ambulance.

●       The number of emergency admissions for people aged 65 and over was explicitly recorded as relating to falls, fractures, or other household-related accidents, broken down by specific cause or item involved.

●       The average or median length of hospital stay for the above admissions.

The second FOI request was sent out to all UK ambulance services. We asked for the following data:

●       The total number of ambulance callouts for people aged 65 and over.

●       The number of ambulance callouts for people aged 65 and over that resulted in the patient being transported to the hospital.

●       The number of ambulance callouts for people aged 65 and over that were explicitly recorded as relating to falls, fractures, or other household-related accidents. If recorded, include details of the nature or cause of the accident.

●       The number of ambulance callouts involving immobile patients aged 65 and over, broken down by the location within the household where the patient was found.

We used NHS England to find the mean Category 2 response time for all ambulance services in England as of April 2025.

Additional sources:

1. Harrow.gov.uk 
2. London Daily News
3. London Ambulance