Would you convalesce in a stranger’s spare room?

I WROTE to Westminster Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt six months ago to suggest hospital patients needing short-term care before returning home should stay with suitably matched carers. Imagine my reaction to the trial scheme — now shelved — that people in England would be offered up to £1,000 a month to take discharged hospital patients into their homes (Mail). Bedblocking by elderly patients who no longer require nursing care, but cannot 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. BED-BLOCKING is an issue all over Britain – Health Secretary Shona Robison pledged to end it here in Scotland but the deadline has long passed. The English idea of people recuperating in privates homes to free space on wards may be a step too far but at least someone is trying to think differently to solve the issue. Meanwhile, Miss Robison throws more money about and nothing changes. TOM KELLY, Paisley, Renfrewshire. 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? Name and address supplied. WAS there a bed-blocking problem when we had convalescent homes? J. ROBINS, Moreton-in-Marsh, Glos.