The Liberal Democrats have attacked the level of care for the elderly in NHS hospitals.

Research from parliamentary answers given to Paul Burstow, the party's spokesman for older people, showed the number of people aged over 75 returned to hospital after being discharged has increased.

The figure for older patients brought back in under 28 days from leaving hospital has gone up by 18 per cent over the last two years.

Numbers have risen from 26,523 between in October and December 1999 to 31,427 in October/December 2001.

The worst hit areas of the country are the North West, with an increase of 79 per cent, and Yorkshire with an increase of 39 per cent.

Burstow said pressure to get patients out of hospital sooner was the core reason for the rise.

"The NHS and social services are under increasing pressure to get people out of hospital quicker and quicker," he said.

"The consequences are poor discharge planning and a rapid rise in the number of people returning to hospital as emergencies within days of leaving hospital."

"Delayed discharge and emergency readmissions are just the symptoms of deeper problems in the care system. Care home closures and a dramatic decline in home care are creating a revolving door crisis in the NHS.

"A premature and poorly planned hospital discharge simply fuels the pressure on A and E departments."