Would you convalesce in a stranger’s spare room?

I WROTE to Jeremy Hunt, the Health Secretary, six months ago to suggest hospital patients needing short-term care before returning home should stay with suitably matched carers. I was told my letter had been passed to the appropriate department. Imagine my reaction to the trial scheme — now shelved — that people would be offered up to £1,000 a month to take discharged hospital patients into their homes (Mail). I can see huge benefits for patients who could be moved back to their communities instead of being in a hospital miles from friends and family. Bedblocking by elderly patients who no longer require nursing care, but can’t return home due to a lack of support, would be solved by adopting a similar system to fostering children. The carer would enjoy the company, and benefit from financial remuneration.

J. STEPHENS, Sidmouth, Devon. IT IS a ridiculous idea that recovering patients could be looked after by strangers in their homes. What would happen if a patient were to have a relapse and die? That happened to my husband who was judged well enough to be sent home, only to collapse and die in my arms three hours later. In such a case would carers be held responsible? What are the motives of those offering to do this and how many lawsuits would follow?

Name and address supplied. WAS there a bed-blocking problem when we had convalescent homes?

J. ROBINS, Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos. THOUGH glad this major problem in health care is being looked at, what a shame a private company was behind it rather than the NHS or social services.

PAULINE FOTHERGILL, Halifax.