Joined up Health and Social Care Community Teams are working closely with GP practices to support people in their own homes, helping them to return home sooner after operations and treatment or avoid a hospital stay.

The Integrated Community Teams (ICTs), which are run by Gloucestershire Care Services NHS Trust, received more than 65,000 referrals in 12 months and are available seven days a week.

The ICTs look for better ways to help people achieve the best possible outcomes, whilst reducing unnecessary hospital stays.

This year, there have also been over 2,000 monthly patient contacts with the community rapid response service, which provides a response at home or in the community within an hour.