MORE than half a million pounds is to be injected into the local authority in a bid to tackle the problem of bed-blocking.
Bury Council will receive £533,000 from a Government allocation of £200 million which is the second phase of a £300 million investment to end unnecessary delayed discharges from hospital by April 2004.
Funds received in November last year have already been invested to release hospital beds to ensure patients, particularly older people, are cared for in the most appropriate place.
Health minister Jacqui Smith, who announced the Government handout this week, said: "Working with their local NHS partners, most councils are on track to deliver the national target of freeing up more than an extra 1,000 beds in NHS hospitals by March.
"The length of time patients are delayed waiting in a hospital bed for their discharge to be arranged, is also decreasing. This is good news for the patient and their family, and allows the NHS treat more patients."
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article