Braintree Council is to launch a £500,000 Health, housing and social needs scheme.

The Healthy Living Project will lead to a "one-stop shop" which will forge links with the housebound or residents in isolated rural areas.

Trained officers will deal with health, financial, social and housing needs in the comfort of people's homes.

Mobile phones and lap top computers will be used to log on to a special database to get information without having to go back to the office.

The scheme, which will be funded over two years by the Government, was plucked from 187 innovative applications from councils nationally.

Social services, the district council, the Voluntary Support Agency, Braintree Drugs Reference Group and the health authority are among the 12 partners.

John Kotz, Braintree Council's lead member for health, was "delighted" and said council officers Angela Verghese, Gill Bicker and Debra Pattinson were instrumental in putting the winning bid together.

"Through this technology we will try to solve all the problems we can through one visit by one person," he said.

"This is a major step forward in using new technology and more importantly in the formation of the partnership between all agencies which we have been striving to achieve."

What the funding will cover

Consultancy fees for the development of the hi-tech infrastructure and websites for the NHS Trust, Social Services, Voluntary Support Agency and Braintree Council.

Equipment for the pilot scheme, including lap top computers and mobile phones.

Evaluation

Employment of a project manager

There will be no direct access to personal records. The scheme will only provide access to information and advice.

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