Care home beds will be made available for older patients

Bed-blocking is when vulnerable elderly people are kept in hospital because of a shortage of beds available in care homes.

Now 52 beds are being made available at Durham County Council's care homes to tackle the problem.

In addition, a number of beds will also be bought in the independent sector.

The council said it will also fund extra care workers to enable people to be looked after in their own homes.

Daily fine

It is estimated the plan to reduce bed-blocking will cost �980,000.

Peter Kemp, the council's director of social services, said it should make a difference.

He said: "This is a complete intermediate care package which will ensure that people only remain in hospital if they need to be.

"It is aimed at maximising independence by enabling people to live in the familiar surroundings of their won home or in a care home.

"This is the right route to follow to ensure people receive the correct level of care to enable them to achieve the highest quality of life possible."

Under the new Community Care (Delayed Discharge) Act, from April next year, local authorities can be fined �100 for each day a bed is blocked and the money will be returned to the NHS.