Falls concern for elderly - Medical Deputising Services - Ring your doctor first

Falls are the main reason older people seek medical help after-hours - just look at the figures below. For many older people, getting out of their home to find medical assistance can be difficult, so the role of medical deputising services and after-hours doctors is vital. Yet many people don't realise that by calling their regular doctor they will be redirected to an after hours doctor who will come to their home - and in most instances bulk-bill them.

Falls dominate top 10 call-outs for after-hours medical care in homes

Falls are a major concern for elderly people and statistics clearly show they are the main reasons for medical call-outs after-hours. In fact, falls dominate the top 10 reasons older people call their doctor after-hours and speak to a medical deputising service in Melbourne:

1. Falls - resulting in lacerations
2. Falls - resulting in broken limbs
3. Falls - resulting in fractured hip
4. Falls - resulting in head injury
5. Chest pain
6. Breathing difficulties
7. Urinary tract infection
8. Abdominal pain
9. Palliative care and death in the home
10. Fevers and upper respiratory infections

With these and other problems happening of an evening or a weekend, many people don't realise they can phone their doctor to get help even when the surgery is closed. The fact is that most doctors in Melbourne are members of an accredited and established after-hours medical deputising service. This means that when you ring your doctor after-hours, the service, staffed by qualified, caring doctors, will come to your home if necessary.

Many of the calls received by the medical deputising services are for elderly people who are just "unwell". If there are no acute problems, the patient is left reassured and comfortable to follow up with their doctor the next day. If necessary, the after-hours doctor can arrange for an ambulance and admission to hospital.

Medical deputising services have been operating in Australia for many years. People who are unaware of the service go to their nearest hospital's emergency department when they feel unwell or are injured. These departments are busy and people can end up waiting for hours.

Calling their regular doctor gives a person peace of mind, knowing they will speak to someone who is an extension of a service they know and trust. It avoids adding to the pressure on emergency departments, letting them concentrate on people with life-threatening problems.

All home visits are claimable on Medicare and most pensioners and people who are financially disadvantaged will be bulk-billed.

Speak to your doctor for more information.

Nic Richardson
Australian Locum Medical Service
Tel: (03) 8341 1200

Josie Adams
Melbourne Medical Locum Service
Tel: (03) 9429 5677