HEALTH and social services chiefs in York and North Yorkshire today welcomed Government Budget cash to tackle the scourge of "bed blocking".

They have backed Chancellor Gordon Brown's six per cent increase in social services spending over the next four years.

Mr Brown said the extra cash would finance better care for the elderly and reduce pressures on the NHS.

The Chancellor has admitted that the Budget, which plans to increase National Insurance to pay for a £40 billion five-year investment in the NHS, is a political gamble.

This year, social services bosses in the region already have £2.26 million to spend on buying new places in the care home sector and ease the "bed blocking" crisis.

North Yorkshire County Council has £1.602 million and City of York £658,000.

A shortage of social services funding has led to residential and nursing homes closing across the region, helping lead to "bed blocking", with elderly people forced to remain in hospital because they have nowhere else to go.

Campaigners for the elderly said they hoped the money would be used to improve home help for older people and stabilise the crisis in the care home sector.

The charity Age Concern York welcomed the Chancellor's measures to boost investment in the NHS and assist social services.

Spokesman James Player said: "We congratulate the Chancellor for what he has done for the NHS and social services. He has seen the need for much increased investment in the NHS over a sustained period of time."

He believed the measures should help tackle bed blocking.

A City of York Council spokesman said officers were looking at the details of the announcement.

Shelagh Marshall, executive member for social services at North Yorkshire County Council, said: "This is absolutely marvellous news. I don't want to be too optimistic, but it will help a lot. There is a real problem and homes are still closing. But this money is very welcome."

Dr Sue Ross, chief executive of Selby and York Primary Care Trust, said: "The trust welcomes that there is an emphasis on ensuring that the health service receives the resources that it requires to provide first-class health care."

David Johnson, chief executive of North and East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire Strategic Health Authority, said: "I am pleased that social services are benefiting. I think that the level of investment over the next four to five years means that the NHS can start putting right some of the things that have let it down."

The news was also welcomed by local MPs.

York MP Hugh Bayley today described the extra cash pledged to social services as "excellent news."

He has campaigned against "bed blocking" problems for much of his time in office. He said: "I welcome the commitment to increased spending. There is no cheap way to better health and social services, the bills have to be paid, but the government also has to deliver to make sure the money buys efficient and effective services."

Selby Labour MP John Grogan added: "I am pleased that Gordon Brown has recognised that you need to invest in social services as well as the NHS, which should help to deal with the bed blocking problem in North Yorkshire."

Health Secretary Alan Milburn was today due to give further details of the NHS investment, which will push up spending from £11.4 billion in the current financial year to a record £14.6 billion by 2005/6.

Meanwhile, the cut in beer duties for small breweries was enthusiastically welcomed by Tony Thomson, managing director of the York Brewery in Toft Green. He said: "This is a huge victory. It's a big bonus to us."

Updated: 11:01 Thursday, April 18, 2002