New joined-up care vanguard schemes launched across England

A total of 29 vanguard sites across England are taking the lead in rolling out a potentially groundbreaking new approach to care.

The NHS England-backed plans have seen 269 groups of nurses, doctors and other health and social care staff put forward their ideas for how they want to redesign care in their areas, which they will now implement using a 200 million pound transformation fund and tailored national support.

It is expected that around five million patients will benefit from the first wave of changes, which will introduce all-new care models. Multi-specialty community providers will be used to move specialist care out of hospitals into the community, while integrated primary and acute care systems will help join up GP, hospital, community and mental health services.

Additionally, new models of enhanced health in care homes will aim to offer older people better and more joined-up care and rehabilitation services.

Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England, said: "Instead of the usual top-down administrative tinkering, we're backing radical care redesign by frontline nurses, doctors and other staff – in partnership with their patients and local communities."

This comes as part of a wider NHS strategy of improving the standard of care and a emphasising prevention over treatment through the use of greater integration.