Health and social care services join together in scheme

A four million pound pilot scheme will examine how health and social care services can improve quality by joining together.

The issues that will be tackled include attention for the elderly, dementia, substance misuse, chronic pulmonary disease and end of life care.

Each of the 16 sites that have been selected for the programme have developed various methods to respond to particular needs and these will be evaluated to see which ones could be beneficial if adopted across the country.

Health minister Ben Bradshaw explained the scheme allows clinicians to work with the community to use their knowledge to design flexible and personalised services.

“That way, people will get the integrated health and social care they need, all in one place, to help manage their condition effectively,” he remarked.

NHS Cumbria, Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Torbay Care Trust and Tower Hamlets PCT are among the facilities that will take part in the pilot programme.

In other news, the revised regulator for health, mental health and adult social care was announced today.

Called the Care Quality Commission, it will aim to improve service across the sector.