A NEW service aimed at helping disabled and older people to live independently in their own homes was launched on Tuesday.

The £1.7 million a year Integrated Community Equipment Service provides a range of specialist equipment to meet the needs of people with a physical impairment, sensory loss, mental health needs, learning disabilities or older people. The service also carries out adaptations to people's homes.

There are over 500 different items of equipment available, ranging from small items such as special cutlery, to large pieces of equipment like ceiling mounted hoists to help people get in and out of the bath.

Minor adaptations, for example building ramps, installing showers and banister rails, up to a value of £1,000, are also undertaken by the service.

In addition to supplying the kit the service also delivers, installs, collects, cleans and maintains the equipment. It is backed up by an emergency out of hours service that means service users can get help 365 days a year.

The service is a joint initiative by Wiltshire County Council, Kennet and North Wiltshire Primary Care Trust, South Wiltshire Primary Care Trust and West Wiltshire Primary Care Trust.

It is provided by a private contractor Medequip Assistive Technology Limited and is available to people who are registered with a GP in Wiltshire who have been assessed by health and social care staff needing support in their home.

The service is another step towards integrating health and social care services in Wiltshire. The service consolidates a number of separate services that used to exist in different parts of the county.

Ray Jones, the county's director of adult and community services said: "By integrating services provided by the county council and the NHS organisations in Wiltshire we can provide one consistent service across the county ensuring that everybody who needs it has access. Our aim is to help people live healthily and independently in their own homes for longer."

Medequip has a team of 18 operating out of its Calne depot backed up by staff at its Middlesex headquarters.