OLD folks' lives are being put in danger because there is no cash left to pay for their care.

And Council leader John Byrne has blamed the borough's two MPs for not fighting to get more money to solve the bed-block crisis.

Coun Byrne launched his attack this week after inspectors were called in to try and solve the crisis, only for MP Alistair Burt to say there would be no more money, and the council would have to work with what they have got.

The row followed a summit meeting of MPs, councillors and health chiefs to try to stop elderly patients "blocking" much-needed hospital beds because they could not be found places in the community.

But Coun Byrne, at Wednesday's (November 6) full council meeting, said the MPs used the round-table meeting simply to bash the council.

He brandished a document from Conservative Central Office which asks local Tories to compile information on social services which "will provide us with ammunition to use against Labour councils".

And he went on: "If they won't listen to us out of political spite or embarrassment, surely they must listen to the health service providers, the doctors and nurses, and all their constituents who are suffering, some of whose lives are now being placed in danger." Last Friday's "summit", including members of social services, Bury and Rochdale Health Authority, Bury Health Care NHS Trust, local GPs and private care home owners, agreed to call in the Social Services Inspectorate and the NHS Executive to carry out a full review of the crisis.

Cash-strapped social services have slashed the number of care home places they will pay for, leaving many elderly people waiting in hospital beds. And the health authority announced last week that they were struggling to balance a budget that is almost £2.85 million in the red.

Bury North MP Alistair Burt told the Bury Times: "It is difficult to see more money as the only solution because more money is not available."

He added: "The council must look at ways to work with what they have got instead of looking for extra money. We hope that the inspectors will be able to advise on long-term policies and make sure community care money is being spent in the best way."

TThere are currently 21 people in Bury's hospitals who are no longer receiving treatment and are waiting for the council to fund a place in a home.

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