A scheme aimed at rewarding good performance among health service staff is to be piloted in Bradford.

Bonuses could be paid out to individual employees or be put back into developing services and improving facilities for patients and staff.

Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust and Bradford South and West Primary Care Trust (PCT), and the Bradford City PCT, are two of ten areas chosen by the Government to pilot the new NHS Team Bonus scheme. The ten schemes will share an extra £3.5 million.

The Bradford schemes will include more than 200 front-line staff based at the Westwood Park Intermediate Care Centre.

Nurses and GPs work there with specialists to deliver services such as neurology and dermatology, traditionally provided in hospitals in a setting that is more accessible and convenient to the community.

David Jackson, chief executive of Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "The team bonus scheme paves the way for us to build on the platform that's been created by staff in breaking down traditional barriers in an effort to improve patient care.''

Dr Barbara Hakin, chief executive of Bradford South and West PCT, said: "We believe staff who deliver services for patients are the ones who really make a difference and understand what patients really need.

"This team bonus will allow front line staff to shape change.''

Bradford City PCT's director of corporate development Sandra Knight said: "Traditional methods of remuneration often reward one or two people for the work of many.

"Team bonuses seem a fairer approach and we believe they'll have the effect of raising motivation and performance.''

Health minister John Hutton said doctors, scientists, nurses, technicians and managers were ''public sector entrepreneurs'' who should benefit ''in cash and in kind from the use of their talents to improve patient care''.