BRADFORD is leading the way with plans for a new system that will share people's health and social care records with professionals at a glance.

The system, which should be up and running by spring next year, means health and social care providers will have patients and service users' individual communication needs flagged up immediately when they look up their records.

People will only have to give consent once for their information to be shared and it is eventually hoped it will extend to West Yorkshire Police and Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

A mix of more than 140 professionals, patients and service clients from across Bradford and other interested towns and cities across the UK yesterday met at Carlisle Business Centre in Manningham to hear how thousands of people's lives across the district will be improved by the system being brought in as the district's unique response to the Government's new Accessible Information Standard.

Those at the event, jointly hosted by NHS England, Bradford Talking Media (BTM) and the Strategic Disability Partnership, heard how the standard will also make sure from July next year that all patients and social care users will be able access and understand any information they are given in a format appropriate to them - whether it is in braille, large print, a text or e-mail.

It also includes any support they might need at appointments and meetings, for example a British Sign Language interpreter.

All organisations which include NHS Trusts and Foundation Trusts, Social Care Providers and GP practices will have to adhere to it and fund the way they meet those needs from their own budgets.

Olivia Butterworth, head of public participation at NHS England, said ultimately it will save providers' money and improve people's health by cutting down on missed appointments and misunderstandings.

The joint record system will be funded between the NHS and Bradford Council and a pilot project flagging up communication needs for the health care sector has already been running in five GP surgeries across Bradford where the flags have been added to an already existing on-line patients record system used by all doctors' practices and health centres in the district.

Marcus Beacham, of the Council's adult and community services, said the local authority was fully committed to it.

"We anticipate working above the standard required," he said.

Councillor Vanda Greenwood, chairman of Bradford Council's health overview and scrutiny committee, said: "Bradford is leading the way with this joint record system. There's been some real collaboration work going on. We are taking forward the required standard quicker than any other cities and we are proud of it."

Susan Crowe, of Bradford Talking Media, said: "It means our health and social care providers will have it right the first time and every time and that in turn will increase people's feeling of well-being."