MORE money has been awarded to Wiltshire to help clear the bed blocking crisis within the county's hospitals.

The county has now been given £744,000 to spend on the crisis instead of the planned £511,000.

Ray Jones, director of Social Services for Wiltshire County Council said: "We felt very strongly the initial settlement for Wiltshire did not recognise our real needs and we were being penalised for our excellent record in working to reduce bed blocking through partnership with the health authority."

The council and Wiltshire Health Authority lobbyed the government to attract further funding.

Dr Jones said: "This revised settlement is a better result and will enable us to reduce the number of elderly people waiting in hospital for a residential or nursing home placement."