IT is a pity your headline 'Promise sparks bed blocking row' (May 4), hides a real success story in dealing with this difficult issue.

At the end of April there was one person delayed in York District Hospital for whom York's social services were responsible.

That person was waiting for accommodation to become available in a specialist unit and has, I understand, now been accommodated.

Since the Liberal Democrats took control of the council a year ago, there has been a real determination to address the problem of delayed transfers of care.

This has been achieved by true partnership working by staff at the hospital, the Primary Care Trust, the city council, providers of care and the voluntary sector. They are all to be congratulated on their endeavours.

There will be no resting on our laurels. The real prize is the prevention of hospital admission in the first place and in this objective our health partners can expect to have the council's support.

Sue Galloway,

Executive member for social services and health,

City of York Council,

Stirrup Close

Ainsty Park, York

Updated: 16:27 Friday, May 07, 2004