Bed-blocking in York District Hospital is expected to be eased with £189,000 of Government cash.

Most recent figures show 42 people are stuck in hospital beds while they wait for funding for places in nursing or residential homes, which have been rationed by City of York Council.

The extra cash would mean 20 could be moved to homes immediately, with another 10 to 15 gaining funding in the run up to Christmas.

Bill Hodson, the council's assistant director of customer services, said: "It has been agreed that all of this money should be made available to deal with the issue of delayed discharges."

But, because the money is non-recurring, the council has had to estimate when funding from them will become available, so it can take over when the Government money runs dry.

Mr Hodson said: "It is imperative that the financial risk is minimised as this funding is non-recurring.

"The number of placements has therefore been calculated on a prediction of when council funding is likely to become available.

"North Yorkshire Health Authority and York Primary Group have agreed that any financial risk which might arise in 2001 and 2002 would be shared by all the partners."

City of York Council introduced rationing of new placements into care in July 1999 because spending was well above the authority's budget. An overspend of £250,000 is expected this year.

Since then, the numbers of people stuck in hospital beds have fluctuated.

Mr Hodson said: "There would seem to be a strong case for arguing that York's funding for social services is significantly lower than comparable authorities, and York MP Hugh Bayley has offered to take up York's case with the Minister for Health.

"However, the problems in the current year must still be addressed.

"This (Government money) would have a huge impact on the number of people awaiting discharge from hospital and should enable York NHS Trust to meet its other obligations to patients over the winter period."

Members of City of York Council's social services sub-committee will discuss the proposals tomorrow.

adam.nichols@ycp.co.uk