Frank Dobson, Secretary of State for Health has announced a £300m increase in NHS funding. Some of the new money will go towards removing the bed blocking logjam which has built up because of a funding crisis in Social Service departments. Where the Social Service budget is inadequate to fund the care of a hospital patient who no longer needs medical attention there is no option but to rely on the NHS system, although the cost to the taxpayer is much higher.Following a fact finding tour by Alan Langlands, the Chief Executive of the NHS and Sir Herbert Laming, Chief Inspector of Social Services and their discussions with Health Authority, Trust and Social Services leaders, a plan for dealing with the situation emerged. Frank Dobson then wrote to NHS chairs, social services and housing chairs and leaders of councils emphasising the need to apply best practice. The additional funding is the Government’s part of the deal to resolve the problem.

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