A NEW service at Barry Hospital is helping to cut hospital admissions and speed up discharges.

The Vale of Glamorgan Community Resource Service has been created by the Vale council and Cardiff and Vale University Health Board to bring together services from the health, social care and voluntary sectors.

These services include a dietitian, occupational therapists, a speech therapist, physiotherapists, home care staff, nurses and access to consultant geriatricians.

Stuart Egan, deputy leader of the Vale Council and cabinet member for adult services, said: “Integrating these services means that local people are getting support and help more quickly, this means less hospital admissions, because people receive care as soon as they need it, so preventing the need for a hospital admission.

"It also leads to quicker discharge from hospital as the support services people need to leave hospital are promptly ready to help them. Integrating services in this way benefits patients and makes savings for both the NHS and the council.”

Maria Battle, chairman of Cardiff and Vale UHB, added: “This is a fantastic illustration of what we are trying together to achieve as an organisation going forward.

"Streamlining the referral process means we can support patients to go home quicker and live independently with the right care they need."

The service is housed in a disused mental health ward at Barry Hospital.

The redevelopment of the ward was funded by Cardiff and the Vale University Health Board and through the Welsh Government regional collaboration fund, which aims to encourage local councils to provide joint services.