REGARDING the article in the Evening News (Thursday, November 9) about bed blocking, I would say that until Worcestershire County Council sorts out the money for more patients to go into nursing homes, the hospital beds will be blocked.

But as it costs about £950 to keep someone in hospital per week and £350 in a nursing home, I cannot understand why, with empty nursing home beds, the hospital does not send everyone who is in need of a nursing home straight away.

Then there would a saving to the hospital of £600. As the newspaper article said, as there are 78 patients waiting - this would be a saving of £46,800 per week.

From experience, I can say that nursing homes can look after old people much better than hospitals, because they have by law more staff per patient, and are trained to a very high standard.

ROBERT W F SMALLMAN,

Retired Nursing Home Owner,

Worcester.