A £1.7bn plan to change the way elderly people are cared for has been proposed by councillors.

The idea behind the proposal is to reduce the amount of time people aged over 65 spend in hospital and help them maintain their independence into later life.

The so-called outcome based commissioning would see social care services and health care integrated into one care plan for each patient so everyone involved in looking after them would be aware of all their issues.

Councillors at a cabinet meeting on Monday night approved the paper and work will now be done behind the scenes over the next year to draw up a framework of how the plan would work.

Speaking at the meeting Croydon Clinical Commissioning Group chief officer Paula Swann said: “We need to fundamentally change the way that services are provided and commissioned for people in Croydon.

“What we have seen tonight is quite a simple video but it is a very ambitious plan.

“This would result in a 10-year contract worth £1.7bn.

”It will profoundly change the way that health and social care is provided for the people of Croydon.”