For the past two years the VDM role has been project managing a number of initiatives also funded by NHSCT that broaden the role of our existing volunteers and support the development of new volunteer schemes. This has included a pilot of CFRs supporting patients who have fallen; 49 existing CFR volunteers across Yorkshire were equipped with additional training and equipment to enable them to respond to patients who had fallen.
The pilot ran from December 2021 to June 2024, during which time trained CFR volunteers attended 8,444 incidents with the ability to utilise specialist falls equipment. The pilot showed that through this additional activity, care and support, CFRs responding in this way increased capacity for response to patients who have fallen and reduced the need for emergency crews to attend non-injury fallen patients, freeing up highly trained resources to attend more serious emergencies. This externally funded pilot has ended, however, given the outcomes and learning, YAS is supporting continuation of this activity.