Following their official launch on 28 May, LincolnshireLive visited the North Hykeham LIVES Falls Response Team to see how they’re getting on.

​

The LIVES team have recently expanded their falls unit across Lincolnshire, where they respond to 999 calls, working alongside ambulances as an emergency response charity.

​

Tony Dimmock, Operational Support Manager, explained why they chose ford rangers instead of vans for their emergency response vehicle.

​

“We picked a four-wheel-drive vehicle because it gives us winter resilience. We’re attending falls outside as well as inside, in woods, in the middle of fields. The vehicle has access to all areas of the county.”

​

Dave Scaresbrook explained why he enjoys being a falls response team member.

​

“Helping people out in the community, helping them get up off the floor and hopefully avoiding hospital admission is amazing.

​

“Every single patient is different and every day is a learning curve. You learn so much from the job.

​

Bill Barber shared an experience he recently had with a patient who had fallen out of his wheelchair at his house near Boultham Park.

​

“We helped him get back into his wheelchair. We spent seven hours with this person on the phone talking to people because we wanted to get someone there to talk to him.

​

“It was quite a difficult job for the patient as well because he was quite fragile and vulnerable.

​

Gemma Shaw, Head of Fundraising and Communications for LIVES, explained that LIVES free up time for ambulances in Lincolnshire.

​

“The patient had a lot of trust issues so it allowed (Bill) the time to build up trust.

​

“They’ll also look at why the person fell and if there is anything they can pass on for safeguarding,” she said.

​

She explained how Mr Dimmock once tidied up someone’s house after the patient had been taken to hospital.

​

“They had to push all the furniture out the way so Tony made sure the house looked normal when they came back.

​

“He remembers folding a man’s glasses and putting them on the table.”

​

She said the story has always stuck with her due to its caring nature.

​

The vehicle in North Hykeham is called The Tempest, named after falls responder Jannine Tempest, who sadly passed away in February 2021.

​

“Everywhere you go in that truck you feel like she’s with you,” said Mr Scaresbrook.

​

Mr Barber added that she was “the falls team mum for Lincoln.”

​

They also added that she would have been in her element.

​

The rangers carry hoists for immobile patients, enabling the responders to hoist them back into a chair or bed.

​

The LIVES team gave a demonstration of how it looks.