SOCIAL services chiefs are to end their controversial "two out, one in" policy in a bid to beat Bury's bed-blocking crisis.

Some 17 elderly people have died in local hospitals since October while waiting for a place to become available in a nursing home.

Health bosses, while welcoming the move, say only a long-term plan will solve the problem.

This week more than 40 elderly patients are stuck in hospital, victims of the cash-strapped department's decision to limit nursing and care home places.

At a meeting on Monday, Mr David Ashworth, director of social services, told representatives from Bury's hospitals and Bury and Rochdale Health Authority that the restrictions looked set to be relaxed because the department's financial health is improving.

He added that proposals to go back to a one-out, one-in system will be put to the next social service committee on June 3.

Mr Ashworth also announced that £50,000 had been released to buy nine home places and relieve the immediate crisis.

Mr Philip Bacon, chief executive of Bury Health Care NHS Trust, said: "It's a move forward but I'm not particularly ecstatic. We still can't get a definite date when these patients will move on.

"After we get through the immediate crisis we have to look for a longer term solution. We must identify and cope with the number of patients locally who will be needing care in future years. We won't be satisfied until we have a different programme.

"Clearly it is regrettable that the policy was ever introduced."

More and more patients have been stuck in hospital since social services introduced their draconian policy last September.

They said the only way to tackle their £3 million plummet into the red was to fund one place in a home for every two vacancies.

This left elderly people stuck in hospital - some for up to six months - when they no longer needed treatment.

Local hospitals buckled under the strain, cancelling operations and closing accident and emergency because of the bed shortage.

Mr Bacon believes that the crisis would also be eased if a £128,000 Challenge Fund grant was put to use as soon as possible.

The money was awarded by the Government to relieve bed pressure and bosses at Bury and Rochdale Health Authority say they are looking at ways to use it for a long term solution.

Mr Richard Popplewell, chief executive of Bury and Rochdale Health Authority, said: "We will look at possible alternatives for the challenge fund money and we are willing to review priorities for that money.

"It was a really useful meeting. We recognise the social service problems and will be working together to solve the problems for the rest of the year."

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