Blackburn with Darwen Care Trust Plus has developed two pilot schemes to tackle the high numbers of people who visit the emergency department (A+E) at Royal Blackburn Hospital.
The Alcohol Intervention Service and the COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) Improvement Programme are being introduced as part of a wider campaign to encourage people to use the appropriate health facility rather than simply relying on the emergency department.
Last year, over 40,000 people attended the hospital's emergency department of which 17,185 were registered with a GP in the borough.
However, more than a quarter of these attendances could have been dealt with in the community, at minor injuries units, a GP surgery, chemist, by the GP out of hours service or even at home.
The two schemes have been launched to try to reduce COPD (lung disease) and alcohol related visits, which are two of the three most frequent reasons for people attending the emergency department.
The pilot Alcohol Intervention Service backed by East Lancashire PCT and BwD Care Trust Plus offers more proactive help to people who have attended the emergency department over seven times with alcohol problems.
It is intended that through closer links between health professionals including the drug and alcohol team and staff at the emergency department, people will be offered help and support sooner.
The COPD Improvement Programme will target people with a number of conditions including chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
The improvement programme will see GP's identifying patients at risk of developing COPD, for example heavy smokers, and offering early intervention with treatment and lifestyle advice.
Training is also being offered to health professionals including GPs, practice nurses and community nurses to improve COPD care and an exercise rehabilitation programme is available through the pulmonary rehabilitation team for people with COPD to help them improve lung function.
