A landmark devolution deal was approved today allowing for greater integration between health and social care, meaning more people will be able to receive treatment in their own homes without having to go to hospital.

The Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge (BHR) Integrated Care Partnership Board, which oversees health and social care across the three boroughs, now has a bigger say over how it runs its own finances.

Money raised from the sale of NHS-owned assets within the three boroughs will now be given back to the partnership, rather than being diverted back into the central health service.

The three boroughs will now also be able to pool more of their resources.

Chair of the BHR Partnership and Barking and Dagenham cllr, Maureen Worby, said: “We are working to fundamentally change the way in which the health and care system works across Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge.

“We believe that pooling budgets and sharing resources will enable us to work more efficiently and sustainably and produce better health wellbeing outcomes for local people.”

The deal was signed today by mayor of London Sadiq Khan, the secretary of state for health and health and care leaders from across the capital.

Since December 2015 Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge have been one of five devolution pilots.

The boroughs have been working together, sharing resources which the partnership claims helps keep people out of hospital.

Now, local authorities and NHS providers will be jointly accountable for the care of the population in their area.

Cllr Worby added: “We will know we have succeeded in our aim when local people tell us it feels different - their care and treatment is seamless and most of their needs are met near their home. They will say that accessing care is simple and they feel the local health and care system responds to them as an individual.”

“Our ambition is to learn from the pilot areas and introduce the new approach, with fully pooled budgets, across all NHS-led health and local authority care services from April 2019. Today’s announcement will help us to move forward together.”