Hunt’s cash threat to councils

JEREMY Hunt will this week write to 30 local councils to tell them to urgently tackle the bedblocking crisis.

The Health Secretary is threatening to withhold future funding unless they improve social care so that patients can be discharged more quickly.

This year councils were given a share of £1billion to improve social care. But the number of patients stuck in hospital continued to increase.

The most recent NHS data shows hospitals lost 181,692 days to bedblocking in July, 3,650 more days than in the previous month. Whitehall officials believe some councils are failing to spend their money wisely.

The Department of Health would not say which councils would be sent letters but Hampshire, Birmingham and Cornwall are among the worst areas for bedblocking.

The letters aim to ensure funds go directly towards tackling the problem.

It comes as hospitals are trying to free up between 3,000 and 4,000 beds before the arrival of the flu season and winter pressures. The head of the NHS Simon Stevens has urged hospitals to brace for a particularly aggressive flu virus spreading across the globe.