Neighbourhood health teams – to help people access services closer to home – will be launched in South Cumbria.
The area has been chosen as a pilot for the national project, which will bring together community nurses, hospital doctors, social care workers, pharmacists, dentists, optometrists, paramedics, social prescribers, local government organisations and the voluntary sector.
The Morecambe Bay NHS area is one of 43 chosen by the Government and will initially focus on supporting people with long term conditions such as diabetes, respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and those people who are frail with multiple and complex health and care needs.
It will centre around areas with the highest levels of deprivation and inequalities and it is hoped it will expand to support other residents.
The pilot will begin this autumn and it will be expanded over the next 12 months, health chiefs said.
Patricia Bell, cabinet member for adults, health and care for Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “This is fantastic news for residents of South Cumbria and reflects the great partnership work and community health focus already taking place in this area.
“We all aspire to holistic and joined-up approaches to supporting health and wellbeing and this programme will really help drive this further forward and make those terms a transformational reality for many more people.”
