A CASH injection of £1.7 million to tackle "bed blocking" by elderly patients in the county's hospitals has been described this week as a "drop in the ocean".

Hertfordshire County Councillor Jane Pitman, executive member for adult care services, described the Government's Cash for Change initiative as "welcome" but "totally insufficient".

She said: "It is a sticking plaster. It will help limit winter pressures but they are talking about 1,000 less people in hospital across the country, that's a drop in the ocean."

But she added: "We won't look a gift horse in the mouth we need it."

Hertfordshire was identified this week as one of 50 local authorities suffering "the most severe problems" associated with elderly patients remaining in hospital, described as "bed blocking".

These cannot be discharged due to lack of sufficient care in their own home or a lack of space in suitable residential or nursing homes.

Councillor Pitman claimed Hertfordshire had a particular problem in finding suitable residential or nursing homes for patients due to a lack of available space.

She said even if more homes were willing to accept elderly residents receiving financial help from the county council, many of these homes were already full, and increasing the amount the county council paid to these homes would, therefore, make no difference.

Nevertheless the government's grant will be used by the county council in collaboration with the primary care trusts across the county to provide increased care in the home and intermediate care after hospitalisation before elderly patients return home.

Councillor Pitman said: "We will be able to prevent some old people going into hospital unnecessarily and support them more effectively when they are discharged from hospital.

"This initiative is much about reducing hospital admissions as it is about helping people leave hospital."

The county council recently launched "Who cares?... We do", its charter for long-term care for the elderly and the services on offer in the community. To view the charter go to www.hertsdirect.org/acs.

A copy of a leaflet summarising services available with contact numbers will soon be available from libraries and council offices across the county. It can be obtained by calling 01438 737400.

November 6, 2001 10:30