Council officials have started using artificial intelligence to prevent people from suffering falls at home.

Norfolk County Council is trialling a new scheme whereby cutting-edge computer algorithms are used to get support out to vulnerable people prone to falls.

The technology uses data held by the council to identify which people may be most at risk of suffering from a fall and prompts officials to contact them with offers of support.

The AI technology has so far identified hundreds of vulnerable people in need of assistance. 

As a result, the council has sent 700 letters, 530 calls and made referrals for 234 people.

The hope is that getting more support put in place earlier will drive down the number of people needing hospital admission as a result of suffering a fall.

Eastern Daily Press: Alison Thomas, Conservative county councillor for Long Stratton.

Alison Thomas, cabinet member for adult social care at the council, said: "I've recently had older members of my family injured after a preventable fall, so can see first-hand the impact this can have on people and their families.

"I really support anything that helps to prevent the pain and often long recovery that comes from a fall.

"We know that prevention is far more effective than cure and, as pressure on services continues to grow, we must look at new ways to support people and reduce demand on our services."

The scheme is the latest example of artificial intelligence being introduced into everyday life.

The council's social care department was already making use of the technology to identify other needs - largely relying on data from surveys and census results to figure out where social care is required.

The technology is also explored locally to help in diagnostics - with the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital using it to help identify signs of skin cancer.

Officials added that the scheme is fully compliant with GDPR regulations.