Government Threatens Council with 'Bed Blocking' fines

12.00.00am GMT Mon 28th Oct 2002

The government is proposing to introduce a new system of fines on local councils who do not do enough to find accommodation for elderly people stuck ('bed blocked') in local hospitals.

The problem arises because there is nowhere for them to go usually because they need residential accommodation and care packages and the government blames some councils for not trying hard enough to resolve discharge problems.

The London Borough of Richmond has currently 34 cases of patients awaiting care (the target is 15) and the council could be fined £1.25 million under the government's proposals.

Vincent Cable said: "The government's proposed system of fines is very crude and will undermine co-operation between councils and the NHS. It needs to be rethought."

"But it is true that not enough is being done to help elderly people return from hospital to the local community. I am very disappointed that neither the NHS nor the council has done more to support the outstanding Homelink scheme in Whitton which provides day respite care for carers of the elderly and helps to keep the frail elderly out of hospital."

"The scheme relies heavily on local charities and the NHS and council have passed the buck backwards and forwards in a disgraceful way, leaving Homelink in a precarious position.