HEALTH bosses have unveiled a £1.1m scheme to help keep elderly people out of hospital.

The money has been spent on a 15-bed intermediate care service - providing residents with round-the-clock help in a care home, rather than taking up beds in hospital.

It is hoped the care home environment will help residents recover quicker.

It will also free up hospital beds, reducing waiting lists.

Darlington Primary Care Trust (PCT) has awarded the £1.1m contract to Four Seasons Healthcare to provide the unit in Eastbourne Care Home, in Cobden Street.

The home, which will continue to provide ordinary services, will open its doors to its first patients under the scheme this week.

The home will provide 15 beds, intermediate and respite care and recovery, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, stroke rehabilitation and a fully-equipped exercise and rehabilitation lounge.

In future, patients will be able to be discharged to the unit as soon as possible.

Respite care will also be provided for people living at home, giving carers a break.

Darlington PCT's director of primary care, Carole Harder, said: "We are delighted that Eastbourne has been able to undertake major building work to offer superb new facilities.

"We also have a very committed team of therapists and carers who are able to work with patients to meet their varied and individual needs, allowing them to return home quickly."

Almost 20,000 pensioners live in Darlington, but with improving lifestyles and medical care, the number of people aged over 75 is expected to rise sharply.

Modern health care strives to keep people in their own homes, increasing the demands for care in the community.