GPs in England too ‘overloaded’ to help older people at risk of falling, say MPs

Falls are the most common cause of death from injury among over-65s, costing the NHS billions each year. Photograph: Islandstock/Alamy

GPs in England are so “overloaded” that they cannot help older people who are at risk of falling in what NHS bosses accept is an unacceptable failure of care, the House of Commons’ public accounts committee has said.

Pressure on GPs’ time has intensified as a result of the government’s decision to give patients online access to their services, according to a report by the influential cross-party group of MPs.