Councillors, health providers and charities visited County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service (CDDFRS) HQ to sign a framework document setting out new ways of working together to keep people safe and well.
The document entitled ‘Enhancing the prevention role of County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service’ aims to target lifestyle advice to the most vulnerable.
The prevention programme will focus on the following areas: alcohol, smoking, dementia, social isolation, winter warmth (including fuel poverty and cold related ill health), slips, trips and falls and flu immunisation.
Firefighters have already begun this new aspect of their health intervention role through a programme of ‘Safe and Wellbeing’ visits, which began in February. Through these visits, which replaced fire service home fire safety checks, CDDFRS has already helped more than 350 people with direct referrals to health and care agencies.
Stuart Errington, chief fire officer for County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We have always worked closely with health providers, local authorities and charitable organisations but this document signed today represents a commitment to systematically embed health intervention into the role of the fire service.
“As part of our regular community safety work we visit thousands of homes each year. Our firefighters and community safety staff are trusted professionals who help people from all walks of life, regardless of the situations that they find themselves in, which leads to very positive interactions with members of the public.
“We are building on this trust by offering help in areas beyond fire safety, which includes providing information from our partner agencies and making referrals should people take up the initial offers of support and advice.”
Councillor Lucy Hovvels, cabinet member for adults and health at Durham County Council, said: “Reaching out to vulnerable people to ensure they are getting the support and advice they need is at the heart of our priorities.
“As part of their role in advising people on fire safety and prevention, the fire and rescue service has already built up trust within communities and is ideally placed to extend this work to offer advice on other services and sources of support to some of the most vulnerable residents.
“We are very pleased to be working with the fire and rescue service and with other partners on this important project, which is already proving beneficial to hundreds of residents.”
Councillor Andrew Scott, Darlington Council’s cabinet member for health and partnerships, said: “It is important that we all work together to ensure residents receive the best possible health care and advice.
“This agreement formalises our commitment to sharing information and knowledge so the most vulnerable in our community can easily get the advice and help they need.”
Gillian Peel, chief executive of Age UK Darlington, said: “We applaud the fire service for setting up this initiative which will help us to identify a variety of people who are currently hard to reach but who may wish to find out about the many services and support we can provide.
“It is great to see so many organisations working together to identify and potentially improve the quality of life of so many.”
Harriet Gibbon, chief executive of Age UK County Durham said: “Age UK County Durham offers a range of services and activities designed to assist older people to improve their physical and mental wellbeing and capacity to remain living independently in their own homes. We are delighted to be working in partnership with CDDFRS on this initiative which helps identify older people who could benefit from our support”.
• Pictured (above, from left): Cllr Michele Hodgson, Rob Cherrie CDDFRS, Cllr Andrew Scott, Cllr Audrey Laing, Keith Wanley CDDFRS, Cllr Lucy Hovells, Andrew Ball Alzheimer’s Society, deputy chief fire officer Colin Bage, Christine Fletcher Age UK Durham, Gillian Peel Age UK Darlington, Miriam Davidson, Darlington Borough Council, Graeme Grieg Durham County Council, Tom Hunt County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust and chief fire officer Stuart Errington.
