Shropshire has a good record for tackling bed-blocking

Shropshire County Council's social services department has been working closely with hospitals and other health care organisations in the county to help get patients home, or into alternative accommodation, as soon as possible.

As a result, Shropshire has one of the best records in the country of tackling bed blocking.

Now the Local Government Association says it wants to know more about Shropshire's successful tackling of the problem ahead of its annual conference in the summer.

Audrey O'Neill, who is in charge of the social team at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, said: "At the point when somebody is admitted, the ward staff consider and discuss with them and their families whether or not they want a request to be put into social services for them to be seen.

"From that, we try at an early stage to get background information and start planning what help will be needed to get that person from hospital to the community again."