Dozens of practices have signed up to a project aimed at delivering joined up care on the basis of “promising” early signs, it was reported yesterday.

Some 15 areas have been testing the Primary Care Home idea which seeks to create integrated care for practices with up to 50,000 patients between them and is backed by the National Association of Primary Care.

Another 170 areas have now signed up to the project.

An evaluation yesterday said it shows “some promising” signs of success.

But it will take time, money and strong working relationships across the NHS and social services, according to the Nuffield Trust.

The projects aim to ensure practice staff are linked with community based services, hospitals and other agencies.

The researchers say there is “positive early progress and enthusiasm” – but say it is too early to identify an impact on patient outcomes or experience.

It has also stimulated some new ways of working, such as the targeting of frail patients at risk of hospital admission, they say.

The researchers warn that the projects need to have the backing of the commissioners who hold the purse-strings for local NHS services.

The test sites received £40,000 in funding and have had to put their own money towards the project, the report says.

Researcher Stephanie Kumpunen said: “The positive early progress and enthusiasm demonstrated by the rapid test sites we examined was promising, with many people involved describing new and improved working relationships and a commitment to improving patient care.

“Like most large-scale change, developing a fully functioning Primary Care Home will be a long and challenging journey, but our evaluation suggests staff are likely to find it rewarding to work in new ways and patients may well receive care that is better tailored to their needs.”

NAPC chair Dr Nav Chana said: “With a small amount of money, the sites have made encouraging progress in a short time stimulating partnership working, leading frontline change, making a difference to patients and we’ve seen improvements to staff morale which is key to their future success.

“Testimony to this is the more than 180 sites which are now developing the model.”