HOW much longer will the headlines go on? Now the health authority is blaming social services for bed-blocking, which is the equivalent of the pot calling the kettle black.

Two dinosaurs, which are supposed to work together, again locking horns and blaming each other for the mess that passed as health care for the elderly.

I campaigned long and hard with your reporter, Janet Brice, to get an elderly patient out of hospital last year. The decision-maker would only say that his priority was to get waiting lists down for people who needed admission and that he had no priority to getting the elderly out.

Now we are faced with social services claiming money out of the elderly care budget, to make good overspending in juvenile services and foster care.

The £1m injection from reserves will not come until at least September 14, and even then it is not guaranteed.

If there are 33 elderly bed-blockers awaiting social services funding then there are 33 potential court cases to be fought as this an illegal practice.

In the meantime, there are some 25 empty beds in nursing homes in Worcester City alone that would/could take the bulk of these patients, but no one can fund their care.

There is no doubt that under funding exists! But is there also mis-management?

D JONES,

Worcestershire Nursing Home Owners Group,

Hallow Road, Worcester.