THE chairman of a major hospital trust has broken ranks to warn that a proposed funding cutback would have a "catastrophic" effect on the already serious problem of bed-blocking.

Bryan Hanson, chairman of North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Trust, contacted The Northern Echo after reading how elderly patients in the North-East are waiting up to four months to be discharged into a nursing home because of a funding crisis.

More than 220 hospital beds are "blocked" by elderly patients awaiting discharge from seven North-East and North Yorkshire NHS trusts.

Doctors believe there is the equivalent of an entire hospital of blocked beds in the region.

Mr Hanson revealed plans by Stockton Borough Council to cut back care home funding for elderly patients.

He said the move would "virtually close" North Tees General Hospital.

The new "one in, one out" policy would mean care home places will only be funded if a vacancy comes up.

Mr Hanson said this will result in a dramatic increase in the number of blocked beds - leading to the cancellation of planned operations.

In a bid to publicise the scale of the problem Mr Hanson released the text of a letter sent to Stockton Borough Council's Director of Social Services, Ann Baxter.

In the letter Mr Hanson writes that the new policy would result in the number of blocked beds rising from the current total of 27 to 50.

"The impact of this will be catastrophic. It will inevitably cause long trolley waits in the A&E department as we will be unable to find beds within the hospital. Patients will be admitted only as discharges and deaths occur.

"Our planned operations will also have to be closed in order to keep beds open for emergency admissions. In effect the hospital will grind to a halt and be virtually closed by your actions."

Mr Hanson said that, while he understood that the council was short of cash, he pointed to neighbouring Hartlepool Borough Council's decision to increase payments to private care homes to avoid bed-blocking delays.

"I would urge you to re-consider your decision," said Mr Hanson.

Ann Baxter replied in a statement: "Stockton Borough Council was awarded beacon status this year for its joint working with health colleagues.

"We are the only authority in the region that has that status. We continue to fund the care packages that people need."

She added: "Some home owners are currently restricting admissions to residential and nursing homes because they would like Stockton council to pay higher fees.

" We continue to be in negotiations with them as do social services departments of other authorities.

"We continue to make placements from both hospital and the community."