Long Lie

Brief Study:

When someone falls and can’t get up from the floor for over an hour this is called a long lie. In the over 65 age-group, 1 in 3 people will fall at least once a year and around 20% of these falls will result in a long lie.  A long lie may lead to other problems, such as dehydration, pressure injuries and emotional distress. More demand for ambulances means that people who fall may wait longer for help and that more people may experience a long lie. Current advice to not give fluids or move people who have fallen is mainly focused on people who may have a hip fracture and need surgery. It also assumes an ambulance will arrive quickly.  Most people who fall do not have a fractured hip and this advice may be harmful.
Our research aims to find out what happens to people who have a long lie and how best to help them when they wait for an ambulance.

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Published on 14 October 2025