DORSET councils are joining forces with NHS bodies to improve the delivery of health and social care services.

The new initiative, ‘Better Together’, sees Dorset County Council, Bournemouth Borough Council and Borough of Poole working with NHS organisations to find new ways of delivering the services.

The aim is to make the best use of available resources and ensure people receive better care and support closer to home.

The plans have been met with approval from the government.

Eric Pickles, Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, announced last week that the Dorset area has been selected as one of nine places to join the next phase of local public service transformation.

Key projects include early intervention and prevention, helping people stay independent for longer and receiving care and support in or closer to their homes, and delaying the need for long-term care and unnecessary hospital admissions.

There is also a strong focus on extending the shared information and advice service to be open to everyone, shared signposting and support and shared services in hospitals.

The three councils, in partnership with the new NHS Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the four foundation trusts (Dorset Health Care Trust, Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospital, Poole Hospital and Dorset County Hospital) will be working together to expand these initiatives, respond to people’s needs and ensure they are responsive to people’s needs at the same time as achieving value for money.

County council leader Councillor Spencer Flower said he is ‘delighted’ Dorset selected as one of the leading places in a scheme to transform health and social care.

He added: “We look forward to receiving intensive support and guidance from DCLG and Department of Health (DoH).

"With rising demand and reduced budgets, we need to find new ways of working together and people also want care and support delivered closer to their homes.

“By working together, staff from all agencies can more easily identify those people at most at risk of, for example, going into hospital – and then put together a combined package of care, support and lifestyle advice to keep them healthier and independent for longer.”

Dr Forbes Watson, chairman of the NHS Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group, said: "We currently work closely with our local partners to deliver services that meet the needs of the local population and we welcome any initiative that strengthens this approach.

“One of our aims is to support local people to lead healthier lives.

“The introduction of Better Together means we can all with confidence, continue to deliver high quality equitable services for those who need it no matter which part of Dorset they live in.”

A joint bid to gain a share of the new £9m Transformation Challenge funds from The Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG) has already been submitted.