A SCHEME designed to give elderly patients a greater say in how NHS and social services money is spent has been approved as a pilot project by the Government.

NHS Trusts, Stockton Borough Council and various charities in the Stockton area joined forces to come up with a project to better use resources for the care of old people with long-term conditions.

The plan was chosen as one of eight from across the country to be tested from April.

The idea is for NHS and social care funding to be combined and used in patient-led projects. It is expected that patients will have a direct say in how money is spent.

NHS England described the Stockton scheme as a model for the management of long-term conditions for older people and the plan was to encourage; "the effective promotion of self-management which will be at the heart of their new care model."

If successful, the Government hopes similar schemes will be rolled out across the country as part of the Integrated Personalised Commissioning (IPC) programme. The initial eight projects will involve providing care to 10,000 people with complex needs.

Other schemes elsewhere involve the care of disabled children, people with learning disabilities and those with serious mental illnesses.

No new money will allocated but it is hoped the plan will lead to efficiencies as well as more effective care. About 40 schemes were devised across England and eight were chosen.

Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England, said: “Our aim in this radical initiative is to end fragmented like-it-or-lump-it health and social care, by giving high-need individuals the power for the first time to decide on the blend of support they themselves want."