People living and working in Bradford have every reason to feel confident about health and social care in the district, Health Minister Lord Philip Hunt said yesterday.

Addressing more than 300 guests at the formal launch of a new health and social care organisation for Bradford, Airedale and Craven, he said the Bradford District Care Trust was a visible sign of the confidence of local health and social care professionals.

Lord Hunt, pictured, was the keynote speaker at the Trust's official launch at the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford.

The Trust is one of four flagship organisations nationwide created as part of the Government's modernisation programme. The other three sites are Northumberland, Manchester and Camden and Islington in London.

It brings under one organisation mental health and learning disabilities for Bradford, formally provided by Bradford Community Health NHS Trust, and also learning disabilities and mental health services provided by Airedale NHS Trust and Bradford social services.

In his second visit to Bradford in six weeks to look at new health care innovations, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Health told the gathering of staff and service users that Bradford had a lot to tell the world about running health and social care services.

"You have a system of working well together over the last few years and it is no surprise to me that Bradford should have one of the first Care Trusts," he said. "You face a formidable challenge but looking at what has been done already, there can be no question that you will rise to the challenge.

"What we have is a sense of a very real partnership between the NHS and local Government enabling partners to integrate services within one body.

"Clearly this Care Trust will suit Bradford and it will be a message that will spread across the country."

Lord Hunt said the new Trust would for the first time provide seamless care, with one information system, with the recipient of the care at the centre of the process.

"It is important to constantly think and focus on the users and what it is that they feel about services and what it is they need," he said. "I am impressed that, in Bradford, users will be involved in decisions."

Other speakers included Care Trust chairman Linda Pollard and chief executive Con Egan, Bradford Council chief executive Ian Stewart and Professor Sashi Sashidharan, medical director of North Birmingham Mental Health Trust.

Guests were entertained by musicians from Performance Express, comprising mental health service users and former users.

The launch will be followed by a series of roadshows to let everyone know about the new Trust and to find out what improvements people would like to see in mental health services.