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One in every 15 people aged 80 or over in Ealing was hospitalised after a fall last year, the highest rate of any London borough.The findings came in the London Falls Index, a new study by Clearcut Physiotherapy ranking all 32 London boroughs by falls and hip fracture hospital admissions among over-65s.The findings were based on five criteria: how often over-65s were admitted to hospital after a fall; how often they were admitted with a hip fracture; how often over-80s were admitted after a fall and what share of residents were over 65; and how fast that group had grown in five years.Ealing came out worst because with the highest falls admission rate in London for over-65s, at 2,940 per 100,000 against a London average of 2,045, and the highest for over-80s, at 6,659 per 100,000. Its over-65 population also grew quickly, up 12.3% in five years.Barking and Dagenham performed best. It had the sixth-lowest falls rate in London (1,749 per 100,000), the fifth-lowest among over-80s (3,947), and one of the smallest and slowest-growing over-65 populations.Between 2019/20 and 2024/25, England's rate fell by 298 per 100,000 (from 2,256 to 1,958) and London's fell by 315 (from 2,360 to 2,045). Four boroughs moved against that tide: Hillingdon rose by 411 (2,195 to 2,606), Ealing by 361 (2,580 to 2,940), Brent by 72 (2,272 to 2,344) and Kensington and Chelsea by 58 (2,491 to 2,549). The other 28 boroughs all fell.An Ealing LBC spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of and concerned by the high rates of hospital admissions for falls in the borough of Ealing. Preventing falls is a public health priority, which is why we recently completed a comprehensive falls prevention needs assessment to better understand local needs, identify gaps in support and set out clear recommendations for action.‘Raising awareness is a key part of that work, and we will be holding a series of community falls prevention events across the borough in September. We are also developing a new strength and balance programme, an evidence-based intervention that can help reduce the risk of falls, with plans to go out to tender later this year.‘Addressing falls requires a co-ordinated approach, and it is a shared priority across the council, NHS and voluntary and community sector partners. Through the Ealing Frailty Board and a dedicated cross-sector leadership group, we are working together to implement the needs assessment recommendations, strengthen local services and improve outcomes for residents.'A Barking and Dagenham LBC spokesperson said: ‘We're pleased that Barking and Dagenham has been recognised so positively in this ranking. Preventing falls is a key part of helping residents stay healthy, active and independent for longer, and this reflects the strong partnership working between the council, NHS and community organisations across the borough.'While we know there is more to do, we're continuing to invest in preventative support and early intervention to help residents maintain their health, mobility and independence.'An NHSE London spokesperson said: ‘Falls account for a significant proportion of ambulance and hospital activity particularly affecting older adults and those living with frailty.'Falls prevention, working with primary care, the voluntary sector and our care provider partners is a priority focus for the London region with good practice examples using home based digital technology, proactive identification of those at risk of falling, increasing access to strength and balance classes working with the voluntary sector alongside innovative approaches to managing falls at home when they occur utilising urgent community response teams to deliver care closer to home to prevent avoidable hospital admissions where possible.'

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ADULT SOCIAL CARE

Ealing records highest hospital admissions in London falls survey

By Lee Peart | 24 August 2026

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