People in Wiltshire will benefit from a new scheme to help them to continue living well at home for longer and to help reduce unnecessary admissions into hospital.

The service, jointly run by Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Wiltshire Clinical Commis-sioning Group, will mean 23 new care co-ordinators are based at GP surgeries to help patients who have been identified as being at a high risk of hospital admission.

Dr Simon Burrell, who has a practice in Corsham and has pioneered the scheme, said: “There are a large number of ways that people who are getting frailer, or who have an on-going illness, can be helped.

“Much of it isn’t about medical care, but relates to more holistic or general support.

“Because there are so many options it’s often difficult for a patient to find them or decide which are the best for them. The role of the care co-ordinator will be to match those who offer help with those who need it.”

Care co-ordinators will work with community nursing teams and support patients, their families and carers to better manage living with long-term illnesses at home.

They will also work with Wiltshire Council and the voluntary sector to provide this support in their own home.

Thelma Taylor-Morgan has been appointed care co- ordinator for the Northlands and Patford House surgeries in Calne to bring services together for patients.

Welcoming her arrival, Northlands GP Dr Nick Ware said: “If you need help to get a piece of equipment or support or advice, you will be able to ask for Thelma who, if she does not have the answer herself, will know where to find it.”