A pioneering scheme to cut the number of elderly people wrongly admitted to hospital is being piloted in Swindon.

The innovative one-year project, at Princess Margaret Hospital, has been so successful that it been extended into the spring and is likely to be copied by other hospitals across Britain.

It is the brainchild of senior social worker Andrea Davies whose initial research at the hospital's accident and emergency department identified a "skills and knowledge shortfall" in the care of older people among staff more used to dealing with trauma cases.

She found that many elderly people have been admitted to hospital, when the best solution would be for them to be cared for at home or in sheltered accommodation.

The project, which targets over 65s, is jointly funded by Social Services and Wiltshire Health Authority.

It was launched in January after a month of research by Ms Davies, who estimates that she has re-directed about 100 elderly patients into more appropriate care in the nine months since the project was launched.

Her work has helped cut waiting lists at a time when PMH is badly stretched because of a rise of admissions during the winter.

Ms Davies said: "Our aim is to provide the most appropriate care in the best setting, and very often this does not need to be the hospital. As far as possible we try to care for people at home by putting together the right domiciliary care package for them.

"People would much rather be cared for in their own homes and with the right support this can be done."

As part of her work in the Accident and Emergency unit, Andrea works closely with occupational therapists who help assess the requirements of people to help them retain their independence at home.

Ms Davies said: "This is an important step towards breaking down the barriers between health and social care."

She will be outlining the nature of her work to social care and health service colleagues at a national conference, Community Care Live in London on December 13.