Public Health Minister Jane Ellison visited the Steeton offices of the Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

She heard about a new service designed to help people at risk of becoming addicted to alcohol.

The service features a network of primary care alcohol workers who are available to support GP practices .

Ms Ellison said: “Increasingly we’re aware that in order to sustain our health services into the future we need to keep people healthy within their communities.

“We only want people going into hospital who really need to be there.”

Dr Phil Pue, chief clinical officer at Airedale, Wharfedale and Craven CCG, said: “We recognise that we need to change, and to become less reactive and more proactive. It involves people taking more responsibility for their own health, so we have to give them the means to do that.”

Ms Ellison also visited Keighley-based Roshni Ghar, a mental health charity for women of South Asian origin.