A shortage of specialist beds is leaving thousands of elderly people blocking NHS wards, the Liberal Democrats have claimed.

Figures compiled by Paul Burstow, the party's shadow minister for older people, found that over the last two years the number of over 75s fit to leave hospital, but unable to be discharged, has risen by 13 per cent. The result was expensive NHS beds were being blocked by people waiting to leave but unable to do so and as wards were filled up hospitals were forced to cancel operations, increasing waiting lists.

Burstow claimed the cause of gridlock is the loss of 50,000 long-term care beds in the NHS and private care sectors over the past five years, and a shortage of care home staff. He concluded budgetary pressures were leading a growing number of councils to refuse to place an elderly person in a care home until an existing resident has died.

Forum Response: The King's Fund

A spokesman for the King's Fund told ePolitix.com that: "The key point is that we need to invest in care services just as much as we need to invest in the health service. A failure to put real investment in for all will rebound very nastily on the NHS in the future."

Forum Response: Help the Aged

A spokesman for Help the Aged told ePolitix.com: "Older people are paying the price for the lack of co-ordination between health authorities and local authorities and the failure of central government to address the mounting crisis in the care sector. Many are in a position where they are unnecessarily detained in hospital because there are no suitable places available in nursing or residential homes, while others are being discharged from hospital before they are ready, running the risk of infection, longer recovery times and stress. This situation is simply unacceptable and requires urgent action from all the authorities concerned."

Forum Response: Counsel and Care

Martin Green, chief executive of Counsel and Care for the Elderly told ePolitix.com: "There is certainly a crisis in the provision of long term care older people. Despite extra resources in intermediate care, many areas are unable to find appropriate placements for older people who are about to leave hospital. In order to meet its targets and honour its commitments to older people, the Government must put more resources into the provision of long term care and act to support residential providers who are facing a crisis due to low fees, recruitment problems and increased regulation."