RESIDENTS of the Ilkley area who fall sick during the coming winter should be better looked after thanks to a £1 million investment by the Government.

The cash has enabled Bradford social services and the Bradford Health Authority to produce a health and social care plan for the winter period.

The money will be used to increase the number of critical care beds in hospitals and to ensure facilities for looking after people in their own homes.

A spokesman for Bradford Council said: "This will either prevent people going into hospital in the first place or to reduce the amount of time they spend in hospital."

The plan concentrates on three major areas of investment:

l Intensive care beds for those in greatest needs.

l Extra rehabilitation beds to prevent admissions to hospital and to ensure that people can be discharged earlier.

l A range of community-based intermediate services.

The plan means that social services and health professionals will be able to continue and develop the services they are already providing.

Deputy council leader Richard Wightman (Con - Rombalds) said: "The winter months are always the most difficult time for social services and health workers as more people, particularly the very elderly, are likely to fall ill during this period, putting extra strain on staff and resources.

"There will always be unexpected cases or emergencies but some of the problems can be avoided if everyone concerned works together to prepare a contingency plan which is flexible, offers appropriate choices and puts the needs of the community first."

The plan follows on from other initiatives introduced this year which include new nurse care managers to provide intermediate care and rehabilitation; expansion of the fast response team to support patients; expansion of the voucher scheme for short-term nursing or residential home stays and extension of the home repairs system.

l Cash for hospital, see page 7.