A scheme aimed at helping elderly people who have fallen in their homes and preventing it happening again has responded to 1,000 calls.

The Innovations Scheme sends social workers and paramedics in a response car to calls from older people who have fallen, instead of an ambulance.

This week the service responded to its 1,000th call.

Hertfordshire County Council and the East of England Ambulance Service, which run the scheme, have said it helps avoid unnecessary and expensive trips to hospital.

Social workers who attend the calls also have to decide how the fall came about, then give out advice or get equipment installed to prevent it happening again.

Colette Wyatt-Lowe, Hertfordshire County Council's Conservative executive member for health and adult care, said: "Not only does this project mean that people avoid the inconvenience of what can be a stressful hospital visit, it benefits the ambulance service by preventing unnecessary use of their resources.

“It also allows us at the council to speak to the patient straight away about how we can best meet their needs in the future."