DORSET’S three local authorities have reaffirmed their commitment to integrate services in a bid to meet the needs of the county’s growing ageing population.

With the population of over 85s already higher than predictions for the national average in 2017, politicians and health professions across the county have joined together in a bid to tackle the growing crisis.

Following the award of £750,000 from the Department for Communities and Local Government Transformation fund in 2013, the NHS Trust and local authorities in Dorset formed the partnership Better Together.

The partnership aims to integrate a wide variety of services and introduce new initiatives to encourage workers to take up careers in the health and social care sector.

More than 40 representatives from Dorset County Council, Borough of Poole and Bournemouth Borough Council met with Dorset-wide NHS bodies to discuss the future of the programme at a conference in Poole held last week.

Following the conference, Cllr Elaine Atkinson, leader of Borough of Poole, said: “With an increasing elderly population, and falling numbers of young people attracted to working and training in health and social care, it is vital that we work together to ensure that people are able to easily access high quality care.

“We are committed to making these changes, and to working closer together to join up services.”

Cllr Jill Haynes, cabinet member for adult social care at Dorset County Council, said: “With rising demand and reducing budgets, we need to find new ways of working together and helping people who are looking for care at home or in nearby centres.

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