THE scheme to keep people out of hospital and cared for at home has been described as "very exciting" by a cabinet member from Monmouthshire County Council.

Councillor Liz Hacket Pain was commenting on the latest developments in the Frailty Programme which will operate throughout the five local authorities in Greater Gwent and has attracted a £9million loan from the Welsh Assembly, phased over three years.

She said: "This is a very exciting scheme, with medical models delivered through the GP scheme. I understand it is for older people, but what about speech and language therapy?

"There have not been enough staff to deliver the programme so young people have not had the support they needed and they can be held back."

Councillor Bob Greenland said: "Collaboration is the buzz word, here is a programme that delivers better, more joined-up services for the community. We don't lose our influence and that is very important. The opportunity to work together cannot be overlooked."

Councillor Jim Higginson said anything that helps the needy is to be congratulated and the collaboration will be for the benefit of the people of Monmouthshire.

Councillor Simon Howarth said he was concerned about people living in his area who could not get on GP lists in Monmouthshire, so would not benefit from the programme.

Alison Ward, chairman of the Frailty Board, presented the latest report to the cabinet and she reassured Councillor Howarth that a very robust monitoring arrangement would be in place, with the joint committee reporting back to the respective cabinets.

She was supported by Andrew Goodall who explained that the programme would mean a shift from institutions and hospital care to care in the person's own home, which was more cost effective.

He added: "If the pilot scheme works well, it will roll out for the whole of Gwent and will operate between 8am - 8pm seen days a week.

"The Assembly would like us to pay back the loan within five years but we'd like to do it in seven.

"We've already spent £3million, we're recruiting at the moment and carrying out full staff consultations because there are a lot of people working in social care and health.

"Most are extremely enthusiastic because this scheme will make a huge difference to the lives of many people."

Alison Ward added: "The scheme will be complementary to existing services in Monmouthshire and it will achieve savings. The National Health Service needs to work differently and it has been recognised there is a need for change."

In a report approved by the cabinet it was pointed out that there will be a single point of access to the scheme which will involve linking in with Wales Ambulance Service, NHS Direct and the GP Out of Hours Service call centres.

The current spend on frailty type services in Gwent is estimated at £10.3million of which Monmouthshire's share is £1,259,977.

The new service will provide urgent assessment, rapid response, emergency home care packages, carers' assesment, access to rapid diagnostics, onward referral and equipment, aids and adaptations.