Waltham Forest Council is set to review its falls prevention service after data revealed the borough significantly exceeded its planned rate of falls among residents aged 65 and over. The review was prompted by the Better Care Fund (BCF) year-end report for 2024/25, which highlighted this concerning trend. The actual rate of falls per 100,000 for the 65+ population was 1771, exceeding the planned rate, which was not explicitly stated in the report. The report was discussed at the Integrated Meeting of Waltham Forest Health & Wellbeing and Health & Care Partnership Boards on Monday 14 July 2025.
The BCF is a national programme designed to integrate health and social care, requiring NHS Integrated Care Boards and local authorities to collaborate on a pooled budget and spending plan. The Waltham Forest Health and Wellbeing Board approved the jointly agreed plan for 2024-2025 in July 2024.
While Waltham Forest successfully met its annual targets for discharge to the usual place of residence and permanent residential admissions, the rise in falls among the elderly population raised concerns. The BCF year-end report noted that the borough narrowly missed the target for avoidable emergency admissions due to elevated rates in the first quarter. The standardised rate was 140 per 100,000 in Q4, just 4 points above the annual target. The higher-than-expected admissions in Q1 (189.9) offset the improvements seen in subsequent quarters - Q2 (161.5), Q3 (145.1).
A North East London (NEL)-wide working group has been established to review the use of the BCF across the system, aiming to improve consistency, effectiveness, and strategic alignment. The group's findings will be shared with the Health and Wellbeing Board in September, alongside the Q1 2025/26 BCF report.
The Waltham Forest Health and Wellbeing Board approved the Better Care Fund Year end report for 2024-25, which was submitted on 9 June 2025. The Board also noted that Waltham Forest's Better Care Fund Plan for 2025/26 has received formal approval from NHS England, with the letter of approval issued on 30 May 2025, confirming authorisation to spend the NHS minimum contribution.
