HOSPITAL chiefs in York came within one day of cancelling routine operations because of the bed-blocking crisis on its wards, it has been claimed.

Ryedale's Tory MP, John Greenway, made the allegation in a letter to Health Minister Gisela Stuart.

He said neither City of York nor North Yorkshire social services departments have sufficient resources to relieve the current demand for bed space.

"The situation is already critical and I am informed that York District Hospital was within one day of having to cancel routine operations only this week," wrote Mr Greenway.

"Up to 50 patients at any one time are blocking beds in York alone. All the patients have been identified for discharge but there is nowhere for them to go.

"The two social services departments in North Yorkshire need access to additional funds if there is to be any alleviation in the bed crisis problem."

Mr Greenway asked the Minister how much cash would be available in North Yorkshire from the Government's Step Down initiative, intended to "bridge the gap between hospital and home", particularly for elderly patients.

He told the Evening Press he sent the letter after meeting the chief executive of North Yorkshire Health Authority, Barrie Fisher, who revealed that at any time there were between 30 and 50 beds blocked in York alone.

A consultant told Mr Greenway he had been within a day of having his routine list cancelled due to the problem.

York needed £300,000 "to make ends meet" and North Yorkshire was "£2 to £3 million in the red".

The deputy chief executive of York Health Trust, George Wood, said the figure of 50 concerned patients identified as fit to be moved to a nursing home.

He said: "Compared to a year ago, the numbers are significantly higher. We are working on plans for winter, when all hospitals face additional pressures, and the continuing rise in delayed discharges remains a matter of serious concern."

A spokesman for North Yorkshire County Council social services said they had a shortfall of well over £3m, partly due to the Government not taking into account those over 65 who initially paid for their own residential home care, but fell back on the local authority when their funds ran out.