A strategy aims to cut the number of elderly people who are hospitalised as the result of a fall.

Hambleton and Richmondshire Primary Care Trust has trained about 20 health staff to be falls prevention co-ordinators.

The trust, along with social services and Age Concern, has developed a system whereby anyone over 65 who has fallen or who is considered to be at risk of falling is eligible for risk assessment by one of the co-ordinators.

Details of anyone who is treated by the ambulance service or at accident and emergency departments are also passed on.

Project manager Jane Robinson said: "We predict that unplanned hospital admissions as a result of a fall among people over 65 will reduce by ten per cent over the next two years as a result of implementing the new risk assessment.

"Many older people can be frightened about telling a health professional that they have fallen in case they have to go into a nursing home.

"This is absolutely not what we are trying to do. The whole aim of what we call the new Falls Pathway is to help reduce people's risk of falling, keeping them out of hospital or intermediate care and maintaining their independence."

The strategy will be launched at Northallerton Town Hall on Tuesday - National Falls Awareness Day.

The event will run from 10am to midday. Members of Age Concern and health professionals will be on hand to give advice.