MONEY is being ploughed into health services in a bid to stop bed blocking in hospitals this winter.

Wiltshire has been given £600,000 by the Government to tackle the extra pressures on health and social care services.

During winter more people become ill and if they are admitted to hospital it can lead to cancelled operations for other patients because the beds are blocked. Longer waits can also occur in accident and emergency departments.

Last year the outbreak of flu saw a big rise in admissions to hospitals.

In a bid to stave off a crisis this winter the health authority together with hospital trusts and Primary Care Groups (PCGs) in the county are spending the £600,000 on extra nursing home beds and services to look after people in their own homes.

Jeremy Hallett, chief executive of Wiltshire Health Authority, said the initiatives planned could not guarantee that there would be no bed blocking but said they were a step in the right direction.

He said: "Inevitably winter brings severe pressures on health and care services and there are bound to be some problems but we hope by planning and investing in this carefully thought out package of services we will help alleviate those pressures."

Trusts across the county have drawn up plans to provide extra hospital beds and streamline discharge procedures to try to reduce bed blocking.

A range of health awareness campaigns will also be instituted.

These range from offering flu vaccinations to older and vulnerable people and a campaign called Getting the Right Treatment which encourages people to make better use of local pharmacists and GPs.

The Swindon and Ridgeway Downs PCG has spent £249,000 on buying 22 beds at a local nursing home for six months.

The beds will be for patients who can be discharged from hospital but need nursing home care.

The North Wiltshire and Devizes PCG is investing money in strengthening community support teams, which consist of district nurses, physiotherapists and occupational therapists looking after people in their own homes, as well as offering short term rehabilitation at a local nursing home.

In both PCG areas a scheme called SHARP is being extended. This is a project involving health and social services staff which aims to support vulnerable people in their own home and prevent admission to hospital.

Money is also being spent in the county's district hospitals to provide extra beds and speed up discharges.

At Princess Margaret Hospital, Swindon, there will be additional intensive care and high dependency beds. Twenty two nursing home beds will be used and a team will help discharged patients .

Extra intensive care and high dependency beds are also being provided at the Royal United Hospital, Bath, as well as an extended discharge liaison service.

At Salisbury District Hospital a day room has been altered to provide eight extra beds and consultants will undertake twice daily rounds of the wards.

The North Wiltshire and Devizes PCG is spending £160,000 this winter on the measures outlined.