HEALTH chiefs and MPs from Oxfordshire visited a 'flagship' hospital to see how integrated working between health and social care could be rolled out across the county.

Banbury MP Victoria Prentis, Henley MP John Howell and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust chief executive Stuart Bell visited Henley's Townlands Memorial Hospital last week.

Townlands, run by Oxford Health, is regarded as a ‘national flagship’ and acts as the hub for care providers including GPs, community nurses, therapists and paramedics.

The group were given a tour including the Rapid Access Care Unit and the care beds in the adjacent care home which are set aside for use by the hospital.

In February, a report by the Care Quality Commission criticised the lack of cohesion between health and social care in Oxfordshire.

County health chiefs are now looking to see if lessons can be learned to improve patient pathways.

Ms Prentis said: “It is important that a joined-up approach is taken, particularly when supporting elderly patients.

“I look forward to further discussions surrounding community hospitals in north Oxfordshire.”

Witney MP Robert Courts, who also joined the tour, said it ‘highlighted many ways in which MPs and Oxfordshire health bosses can work together to provide the care we all need in the future’.