A report examining how health and social services in Sutton work together has concluded that there are strong and strategic ties between the borough's care organisations.

Professor Steve Field, chief inspector of primary care services, said: "The London Borough of Sutton has shown just what can be achieved when everybody in the system works together to support joined up care."

The Care Quality Commission usually reports on individual services but they are now reviewing how care is coordinated across different organisations in specific areas.

Their review of Sutton found a strong and strategic commitment to partnerships.

Professor Field added: “It is more important than ever that local authorities, social care providers and their NHS colleagues in acute, community and primary medical services work together in mature, purposeful and trusting relationships.

“If they can achieve that - as they have in Sutton - there is every chance that the communities those organisations serve will be provided with good quality care. And that's vital for all those people living with long term conditions who may need to move between health and care services as their needs change.”

CQC reported that Sutton's hospitals and employees of the care sector felt a strong partnership and were eager to work closely to provide the best support.

The report noted that there has been a reduction in the number of elderly people needing to go to a hospital in an emergency, a reduction in overall costs and a fall in the number of urinary tract infections and pressure ulcers.