THE number of bed-blocking cases in North Yorkshire has fallen.

Over the past few months, county council staff have worked with local hospitals and primary care trusts to reduce the number of patients having to stay in a hospital bed longer than necessary.

The council has invested in more residential and nursing care services, as well as systems to avoid patients having to be admitted to hospital.

Many of the rehabilitation services have been strengthened.

New services, such as night-time support for vulnerable people, have been created, and more equipment to enable people to stay at home has been bought.

Rosemary Archer, the council's director of social services, said: "The number of delays have fallen over the past months.

"When people are admitted to hospital, we have an important part to play in getting them home quickly with the right kind of support.

"We have bought more home care to give people the intensive support they should have when in need of critical care."

Under new rules, the council is fined £100 a day if it causes a patient to be kept in hospital.

Councillor Murray Naylor said: "Paying council money to acute hospitals is counter-productive since it reduces community services. We have to work together to avoid this happening.

"We intend making further investment after April, particularly in services for people with dementia."