For the pilot, four community matrons began work in December 2005 and underwent an intensive inter-agency induction programme. Two matrons work in the north of the PCT and two in the south. The local improvement team (LIT) agreed that it would be ideal if all practices within the PCT had some access to community matron time rather than focusing the community matron resource on a small number of practices. Social services also agreed to conduct joint visits where needed. Thus, matrons are allocated set practices to work with and every practice has their designated matron.

Use of bed days in hospital by the over-65 practice population has reduced by 23% between January and August 2006. From June 2005 to Aug 2006, there was a 13% reduction in unplanned admissions for the over-65 practice population.