HUNDREDS of thousands of pounds is set to be pumped into improving home-based care services for York's older residents.

City of York Council social services chiefs will on Thursday discuss how to spend a total of £700,000 Government cash.

Proposals they will be asked to approve include the setting up of a "rapid response" night care service, improvements to specialist day care and the community equipment service, which provides and distributes equipment people need for their day-to-day home care.

All the recommendations are aimed at improving the level of care people can receive at home with a view to preventing their being admitted to hospital.

The city council is working closely with Selby and York NHS Primary Care Trust (PCT) on the establishment of the rapid response service.

Recruitment for the PCT-funded scheme, which will provide access to nursing care throughout the night, is currently under way.

Rapid response staff would be on call to attend incidents, such as minor falls, where the client may be admitted to hospital without needing to be.

Coun Sue Galloway, executive member for social services, said: "We are trying to reduce the number of people going into hospital. I feel these proposals will greatly enhance the ability of people to remain in their own homes.

"The challenge we face is meeting people's wishes to remain in their own homes and to provide good and reliable services. These proposals will go some way to addressing people's demands."

Jim Crook, City of York's director of community services, said: "This investment will enable us to improve our services to older people in the city. The aim is to support older people whenever possible in their own homes and to provide specialist care for those who need it."

Derek Shaw, secretary of York Older People's Forum, said: "We support intermediate care. It is cost-effective and alleviates disruption to the client. Most people would like to stay in their own homes rather than be admitted to hospital and these recommendations could help people to do that."

The proposals will be discussed at a meeting at York Guildhall, on July 10, at 6pm.

Updated: 10:23 Friday, July 04, 2003