A NEW scheme to permit health and care professionals to share information has been introduced and will ‘help save the lives of the vulnerable’.

The Cheshire Integrated Digital Care Record is a new partnership project involving Cheshire East Council, health trusts and clinical commissioning groups across the county.

It will enable health and care professionals to take more timely and appropriate actions when dealing with a resident or patient who is new to them.

The new system will integrate health and social care records without compromising confidentiality and data protection and will ensure the speedier sharing of information between GPs and hospital consultants, with vital information including social care needs also available.

Lorraine Butcher, Cheshire East Council’s executive director of strategic commissioning, said: “Putting residents first by mobilising care and support services around them and in response to their needs is how the Council and its partners will help people to live well and for longer.

“It is an opportunity to affect a real step-change in how we and our partners can work better together to ensure the needs of all our residents and patients are met more quickly.”

John Wilbram, chief executive of East Cheshire NHS Trust, added: “I wholeheartedly welcome this project and we look forward to working with Cheshire East Council and our other local partners to help the new system further increase the quality and efficiency of the care we deliver to our patients.”