A NURSING home owner has warned that many homes may be forced to close unless social services give them a huge cash injection.

Derek Jones, proprietor of Henwick Grange Nursing Home, in Worcester, said the likely funding increase for the next financial year was considerably below what it needed.

Mr Jones, who is also a committee member of Worcestershire Nursing Home Owners' Group, said the proposed increase of three to five per cent would not even be enough for the home to tread water.

Following a meeting with Worcestershire County Council's head of social care, Eddie Clarke, and cabinet member for social services Coun Liz Eyre last Wednesday, he said home owners were going to have to put up with another year of underfunding.

Owners were calling for £450 to £500 per resident per week, but were likely to receive little more than £400.

The current social services settlement stands at £383 a week. The funding is used for residents who cannot fund their own care.

"We were told that social services had been short-changed by the Government," he said.

"They give us the same line every year. We won't even be able to tread water."

Mr Jones said home owners had a one per cent increase in National Insurance to cope with, as well as a general wage increase to pay for.

"How do we keep pace if we're not getting the rise to do the job?" he asked.

"I think more homes will go to the wall if we only get a small increase."

Coun Eyre confirmed the council was planning to increase the fees for nursing and residential homes by between three and five per cent.

"I am delighted to say that despite our funding problems, members have supported me in ensuring we yet again put additional funding into this vital area," she said.

"My colleagues and I truly appreciate the cost pressures the home owners have - after all, they are very similar to our own."

The funding increase will be confirmed today at a meeting of the Home Owners Forum.

MP is to probe anti-city 'bias'

LABOUR MP Mike Foster is to quiz GPs over allegations of discrimination against hospital patients from Worcester.

The City MP says he has been told patients from within his constituency have less chance of being given a place in Evesham, Pershore and Malvern Community hospitals than people who live nearby.

Mr Foster said this leaves his constituents at greater risk of suffering "bed-blocking".

This is because the community hospitals offer care for people who are fit to leave Worcester Hospital - but are not well enough to go home.

Mr Foster said that, if true, GPs would be responsible as they are in charge of managing the beds at the three hospitals.

He plans to challenge them at a meeting of the Worcestershire Local Medical Committee at 9am tomorrow.

Mr Foster said it was vital all the county's patients should be treated "equally".

He told the Evening News: "It was put to me that if two people are ready to leave the acute hospital, and free up those vital beds, and one lives in Pershore and one in Worcester, there is every probability that the Pershore resident will be allowed to go to Pershore Community Hospital, but the Worcester resident would not, even if this was in the best interest of the patient and even if this meant that person had to stay in an acute bed. This has got to be wrong."

He added: "Where appropriate, people in the South Worcestershire, and that includes Worcester, should have access to all local health facilities, not just some.

"It is wrong that GPs can stop my constituents going to the community hospitals and keep them in an acute bed when this isn't in the best interests of the patient and it could prevent that acute bed being used by someone with acute care needs.

" I will be raising this issue with GPs on Friday, as I believe they will want to make health care function effectively.

"If beds are free in the community hospitals, it makes sense to make them available for all residents in South Worcestershire, and not have a parochial view that Pershore hospital is only for Pershore residents and Evesham for Evesham residents.

"I want to see acute beds used properly in the county. That means tackling delayed discharges, getting social services to fund home care or nursing home packages, and making the best use of community hospitals - and if that means GPs accepting patients from Worcester where appropriate, so be it."

Leave Pershore hospital where it is, urges Spicer

WEST Worcestershire MP Sir Michael Spicer is calling for Pershore Cottage Hospital to be redeveloped on its present site rather than relocated.

Sir Michael has written to South Worcestershire Primary Care Trust chairman David Barlow following Tuesday's board meeting.

He said he was very concerned that the PCT was only offering a single option for consultation.

"The proposal to move the hospital facilities from their present site to the Heathlands Residential Home is flawed in many respects," he said.

"It is essential that the Trust should at least consider alternative solutions."

Sir Michael wants the hospital to be rebuilt on the current site, using private finance.

At Tuesday's meeting in Pershore, Trust chief executive Mike Ridley said they would consider other suggestions about the hospital.

"Redeveloping that site could leave Pershore without a hospital for several months," he said.

"But, if that's a genuine response during consultation, we will look at it."

Hereford cash haemhorrage

HEREFORD Hospitals NHS Trust is facing its worst cash crisis in 10 years.

It blames a massive workload for building up a potential debt of £1.2m by the end of March.

"This is the tightest financial situation we have ever found ourselves in," confirmed chief executive Jeremy Millar.

With Hereford County Hospital nearly always filled to capacity and many beds "blocked", the trust has paid private hospitals to treat patients so it can meet Government waiting list targets.

The costs have eaten into its £67m 2002/3 budget, which was based on an 85 per cent bed occupancy at the hospital.

Mr Millar said if the situation was to improve, everyone would have to get to grips with social care of the elderly.