Intermediate care. Bed spread

A health authority which has been using beds in independent nursing homes as alternatives to hospital for older people since 1997 has found this a satisfactory model of care. Initially the beds were used for terminal care only. Last winter the scheme was extended to provide intermediate care. The scheme uses a maximum of five beds for terminal care in one nursing home at any one time. The scheme is thought to have saved some 2,000 bed days each year. The length of stay has been reduced and now stands at 33 days.