BOWEL cancer patients in York and Selby are benefiting from a pilot scheme to improve the co-ordination of care, health chiefs say.

The Government- funded Integrated Cancer Care Programme is being run by York Hospital and North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (PCT).

The programme is intended to give patients with the disease a better service, by giving one medical professional the overall responsibility for their care - rather than different nurses and doctors.

The former Selby and York Primary Care Trust (PCT) was one of only nine sites across England and Wales to win cash for the scheme, which is due to finish in May.

Under the programme, patients are given a "health risk assessment" to determine how serious their needs are. Health leaders say the scheme means patients get better information and support so they can manage their symptoms more effectively.

Dr Bob Markham, a leading cancer care specialist for the PCT, said: "The project looks at the benefits of the dedicated integrated cancer care programme team having overall responsibility for a particular patient's needs - enabling the patient to have easier and faster access to the services they require as well as offering a robust support service for the patient.

"The close partnership working also ensures that both the PCT and York Hospitals Trust can use our resources to best effect to help bowel cancer patients."

Cath Miller, lead cancer nurse for York Hospitals Trust, said: "Giving greater overall control of a patient's care to the integrated cancer care programme team enables us to take a pro-active approach, detecting actual and potential problems early, improving co-ordination between different support services and helping to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.

"This can be of great benefit to patients and their families. I'm really pleased with how the hospital trust and PCT have been able to work together to put this pilot project in place."

The care team involved in the project is staffed by an advanced nurse specialist, a care co-ordinator and part-time data analyst.

The 12-month project will be evaluated when it finishes this year, and could be introduced across the whole county if it has been shown to be successful.

Elements of the project could also be used to improve other health services.