PENSIONERS have criticised an “outrageous” decision to axe a vital falls prevention scheme across Essex.

Essex County Council is set to decommission its Falls Prevention Service after the Department of Health cut its public health grant.

Sheila Hammond, secretary of the Tendring Pensioners’ Action Group (Tenpag), said the move would simply burden other public bodies left to deal with any increase in falls.

She said: “Cutting the Falls Prevention Service is, like other cuts to social care, going to cost the NHS more as it deals with more falls.

“In Tendring, we have got the largest elderly population in the UK and this will affect us more here.

“The Falls Prevention Service is a very valuable service and advises elderly people what they are doing wrong and how to reduce the risk of a fall, from drinking enough water to ensure they don’t get dizzy to removing rugs.

“This is just another cut that will affect the elderly.

“We are outraged by this decision – we deplore any cuts to these vital services.”

Ivan Henderson, Labour group leader, hit out at County Hall bosses for “shirking” their responsibility to some of the county’s most vulnerable residents.

“The service is all about recognising people at risk of suffering falls and to carrying out prevention work before it turns into a greater problem.

“This is not just a case of cost, but Essex County Council is shirking its responsibility to our residents.

“This will impact the NHS and the ambulance service – preventing falls is the key.

“This decision is disgraceful and is another case of short-sightedness. I’m concerned that County Hall is taking these actions without knowing what the consequences are.”

Responding to questions by Mr Henderson, John Spence, Essex’s councillor responsible for cabinet member for health and adult social care, advised that the falls service had “not been delivering the benefits originally anticipated”.

County Hall said it was essential the service was reviewed in light of the planned cut in the public health grant and spending pressures in other area.

The authority added: “The notice periods for early termination of the contracts concerned were between six and 12 months, which would allow sufficient time to work with partners to develop alternative approaches to minimising the incidence of falls.”

It was decided that the falls prevention service should be decommissioned “as soon as possible”.