Fewer north Norfolk patients with long-term and chronic conditions are being admitted to the county's three main hospitals, according to new figures.

NHS North Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group (NNCCG)statistics reveal the number of people from the district going to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, James Paget University Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital with long-standing conditions between April and November last year was down 13.9pc on the same period in 2013.

A major reason behind the reduction was put down to health group's integrated care programme, which treats people at a community level.

Arnoop Dhesi, NNCCG chairman, said: 'The importance of integrating health and social care has long been a priority for the NHS but with hospitals facing unprecedented demand, the need for a system that allows people to receive care in their homes and communities has never been greater.'

The programme was set up in 2010 and includes GP practices, Norfolk County Council, Norfolk Community Health and Care NHS Trust and voluntary groups.

At the end of October last year, more than 1,600 patients had been referred to integrated care co-ordinators.

Denise Burke, from the Act on Ambulances campaign set up by the North Norfolk Labour Party, was heartened by the news but said: 'Reducing the numbers of admissions is just one piece of the puzzle and we have a long way to go before we can say we have a fully integrated and funded health and care system.'