A programme of investment and innovation is being launched by Bradford and Airedale Teaching Primary Care Trust.

The Trust has published a draft three-year commissioning plan to transform health and healthcare in the district.

It has forecast there will be at least an extra £40 million over and above the existing levels available for investment over the next three years to help tackle health inequalities.

This includes further investment to commission services from the voluntary and community sector (VSC), to tackle health inequalities and focus on areas including smoking, child health, obesity, sexual, oral and mental health.

"People living in many parts of our community have a poorer standard of health, on average, than the country as a whole," said Trust chairman, John Chuter.

"There are extreme inequalities across Bradford and Airedale and significant differences in life expectancy.

"We must focus on improving the overall health of the population we serve, while reducing the inequalities between our most affluent and deprived areas."

Local people have already been involved in helping to develop the commissioning plan through a series of meetings.

"This recent consultation is the start of a continuous dialogue with the public and our stakeholders as we develop services across the district," said Mr Chuter.

The draft plan sets out the service areas where extra investment will bring the greatest improvements in patient care and health improvement.

"We have a fantastic opportunity to transform health and healthcare," said the Trust's director of commissioning Matt Neligan.

"To achieve this we must invest wisely and focus on health improvement, prevention and addressing health inequalities, but we cannot successfully address these issues on our own.

"Success will depend on close working and engagement with the local authority and other partners in tackling the underlying causes of ill health such as poor housing, education and unemployment, for example.

"Our plans - which put funding where it is needed most and can make the biggest difference - need to fit clearly with the wider objectives of the district as a whole."

Through targeted investment, the tPCT is to focus on four key areas: - health improvement, prevention and addressing health inequalities - commissioning primary care services to improve quality, access and the patient environment - transforming urgent care - transforming learning disability and mental health services The draft plan will be circulated to partners and stakeholders for comments and the final strategy and investment plan is due to be published early in the new year.