GP and other primary care services in Gwent are set to benefit from extra investment of more than £15 million during the next three years, as part of a Wales-wide drive to refocus healthcare provision.

Smoking cessation, seven-day district nursing, and more support in primary care for people living with diabetes, skin conditions, joint problems, and mental health issues, are among the areas set to receive a funding boost.

There will also be investment in pharmacy, physiotherapy, phlebotomy (the taking of blood tests), and dietetics.

The overall aim is to support the implementation of the Welsh Government-driven plan for primary care services, which seeks to develop a new model of health, promoting physical, mental and social wellbeing, rather than focusing on ill health.

It is a vision that will involve not only the NHS, but social services, housing, education, transport, environment, leisure, the charitable and voluntary sectors, and most importantly, individuals and carers.

The bulk of the investment - £4.4m a year for three years - will go towards funding projects that Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has identified as priorities for primary care to the end of 2017/18.

Included is almost £490,000 is earmarked for enhancing smoking cessation services in the area, and more than £2.4m for providing seven-day support for some primary care services.

There is also a £544,000 investment proposed for anticipatory care planning for care homes, nursing input to identify patients for whom a hospital admission might be avoided with the help of extra healthcare support in their home.

More than £1.7m is earmarked for extended, seven-day district nursing, including out-of-hours, again to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions.

Among the other proposals is a three-year £850,000 investment in developing a diabetes care pathway in primary care, providing more support to patients closer to home.

Gwent has 12 Neighbourhood Care Networks (NCNs) - part of a Wales-wide system of local, GP-led healthcare groups, and this year, they will share more than £1.1m of funding.

Each has identified its own priorities for spending, based on the needs of its population.

Most for instance, have decided to invest in developing pharmacy services in primary care, while in Blaenau Gwent's two NCNs, more emphasis is being given to clinical governance in nursing homes, and community dietician and direct access physiotherapy services.

Separate investments are also being made in eye care and treatment services in primary care (£240,000), and in extending access to primary care (£320,000).