A LOCAL GPs' group has been named as a national pioneer in its efforts to make health and social care services work better together.

Nationally, there is a push to make GP practices, hospitals and social care services work in a more coordinated way, to prevent people falling through the cracks and cut the number of patients needlessly stuck in hospitals.

Now the NHS Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) has been named as one of 11 new pioneers in this area, after impressing bosses at the Department of Health with their efforts.

The CCG, which brings together 17 GP practices, aims to provide care that is wrapped around patients’ needs, in a project called Right Care.

This works on the basis that if people get better support at home, along with earlier treatment in the community and services that join up with each other, they can help prevent people needing emergency care in hospital.

The CCG will now be given extra support to accelerate the pace of change and deliver this vision.

Dr Phil Pue, a GP and the CCG's chief clinical officer, said: “We are absolutely thrilled to be chosen as a new integration pioneer.

"Our vision is to transform health and care and create integrated community and hospital services that place people at the centre of making decisions about their care.

"Patient-centred care will support people to get the right care, at the right time, in the right place, first time."

Fellow GP Dr Colin Renwick, the CCG’s clinical chairman, added: "Our patients continue to tell us they want services to be more ‘joined-up’ so their care is co-ordinated.

"Being part of this programme will give us a real opportunity to continue to deliver our ambitious vision and to make sure local people continue to receive the best health and care services.

"By providing more integrated services, we will give people the power to enjoy happier and healthier lives – and we’ll be with them every step of the way."

The Department of Health (DH) Integrated Care and Support Pioneers Programme first began in 2013 to test new ways to join up people's care around their needs.

It has now been extended to these areas.

Meanwhile, Bradford has been handed £230,000 to put in place extra care packages for people who are otherwise unable to be discharged from hospital.

The Council is among 87 authorities that will share a £12 million pot, which has been rushed forward ahead of a planned hand-out for the next financial year, in April.

The money is also intended to prevent people needlessly going to hospital in the first place, perhaps because of falls or flu.

Ministers say they are targeting help on the areas where they recognise social care systems are creaking, preventing the smooth transfers of patients.

The fund was unveiled yesterday by Local Government Secretary and former Bradford Council leader Eric Pickles.