City of York Council is being asked to approve a host of new community based services designed to enable more older people to live independently.

The Executive Member for Social Services Advisory Panel, which meets on Thursday July 10, will discuss proposals to spend £700,000 improving the level of community care for older people.

Thanks to new Government grants community services has been able to draw up a spending plan that will increase some existing services and develop new ones.

Reducing the numbers of older people awaiting discharge from hospital has been listed as a priority and proposals include employing additional hospital-based care managers and the setting up of a rapid response team to aid much quicker discharge of older people from hospital, and to prevent unnecessary hospitalisation.

There will be additional money spent on specialist day care, a night home care team, community equipment service, home improvement, home support, residential and respite care.

Jim Crook, City of York's director of community services said "This investment will enable us to improve our services to older people in the city. The aim is to support older people whenever possible in their own homes and to provide specialist care for those who need it."

City of York Council is working closely with Selby and York NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT) on the establishment of the 'Rapid Response Night Nursing Service'. Recruitment for the PCT funded scheme, which will provide access to nursing care throughout the night, is currently underway. Heather Rice, Selby and York Primary Care Trust Director of Health and Social Care, said: "The PCT welcomes this investment into community services, it provides another example of how organisations are working together for the good of the patient.

"We hope our 'Rapid Response Night Nursing Service' will help reduce the number of hospital admissions, and that by having nursing expertise available during the night more people will have the choice of remaining at home for their care or being discharged from hospital sooner."

The 'Rapid Response Night Nursing Service' will support the soon to be established 'Palliative Care Sitting Service' which will work closely with the City of York Council night carer service.

The executive member for social services and education, councillor Sue Galloway, will be asked to consider recommendations that will put these plans into practice.

ENDS