COUNCILS across East Lancashire are to get a share of a £3million government cash boost aimed at tackling the problem of 'bed blocking' in hospitals.

But a senior Blackburn with Darwen councillor today claimed the authority had been penalised for its good work in the past as it hadn't received as much money as other areas.

The grants will help free-up places for patients in need of operations or urgent treatment by allowing elderly and other recovering patients to be moved out of hospital beds.

The cash -- part of the Government's 'bed-blocking' initiative -- is understood to be more than that which was originally suggested when the government announced the action in October.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is set to get £409,000, while Lancashire County Council will receive £3,430,000.

The money will go to social services to provide more spaces in nursing homes and to pay for people to be cared for in their own homes so that they can be discharged from hospital.

In all, 150 English local authorities are involved in the drive.

The first slice of the money has already been spent with delayed discharges nationally cut by ten per cent since September last year, with the remaining money allocated for 2002/2003. Sue Reid, executive member for social services at Blackburn with Darwen Council, criticised the way the money had been shared out.

She said: "I welcome this announcement but with one reservation. Since April 1998 I have ensured that one of the council's top priorities is not to block hospital beds.

"No elderly person in Blackburn with Darwen has been kept waiting in hospital due to the lack of funding from the council.

"This success has been at considerable additional financial cost to ourselves. The 50 or so councils who did delay hospital discharges have been effectively rewarded by receiving double the financial allocation.

"This is neither a sensible nor fair way to reward good practice."

Rossendale and Darwen MP Janet Anderson welcomed the cash boost saying:"This will help release hospital beds to treat patients and reduce waiting times and will help many patients, especially elderly ones, to be treated where they want to be -- in their own homes.''

Announcing the cash allocations, Health Minister Jacqui Smith said: "As part of the initiative, councils are building stronger partnerships with the NHS and independent sector in order to establish longer term plans."