The plans want to take the pressure off GPs and hospitals

Health and care services in Preston and the surrounding area are being re-drawn to make care more local.

Managers of health services from Preston, South Ribble and Chorley are due to work together on a proposal.

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It will see those with complex health needs being supported to remain independent for as long as possible.

Lancashire County Council said the new way of working would see services delivered closer to people’s homes.

It is hoped by doing this the pressure on hospitals will be relieved.

County Councillor Azhar Ali, chairman of Lancashire Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “These plans have the potential to lead to great improvements in health and social care across Lancashire.

“The aim is to better coordinate people’s care based on their needs. This will avoid crisis situations, improve the quality of services while offering bett! er value for money by making them more efficient and reducing administrative costs.

“We will also work more effectively with voluntary and community organisations to improve the wellbeing of our residents and to help them live as independently as possible.

“Each area of Lancashire faces a different set of health and care issues, which is why we’re developing separate plans for each Clinical Commissioning Group area.”

The proposals are part of the Better Care Fund plan, which is due to come into force from 2015 onwards.

Dr Ann Bowman, Chair of NHS Greater Preston Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “The Better Care Fund supports the approach our CCGs are already taking to integrate care around our patients to deliver care closer to home. This will enable us to move faster to deliver care and meet the needs of our patients and their families.”

To view the Better Care Fund plan for Preston and the surrounding area visit the Local Government website.