BORDON health professionals are taking part in a new project to provide better care.

Around 140 GP staff are at the heart of a new scheme to help patients to access the most appropriate health or social service for their needs in the South Eastern Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group area.

Receptionists at GP practices have undertaken a10-hour training programme to become so-called care navigators.

The initiative - said to have been successfully trialled in other parts of the country - involves the care navigators directing patients to the right health professional. In other parts of England, it has freed up GPs and other healthcare professionals to spend more time with the patients who most need their help, advice and support.

Dr Barbara Rushton and Dr David Chilvers, the clinical leads for the NHS South Eastern Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group support the scheme.