FEARS that elderly patients could be left stranded without proper health care over the winter months have been eased thanks to an extra injection of cash.

Health chiefs at the hospital which caters for Ilkley patients, Airedale General Hospital, Steeton, near Keighley, had expressed concern that a lack of funds from social services as well as primary care services in North Yorkshire could jeopardise their winter plans.

Their main worry was that a shortage of beds in nursing and residential homes would lead to services at Airedale being over-stretched. But they say the problems have now been resolved and that Airedale is ready to cope with the expected increase of patients over the busy winter months.

Airedale NHS Trust director of planning and marketing Doug Farrow said: "Both Bradford and North Yorkshire social services have had to curtail expenditure on residential on residential and nursing homes, but they have both now made resources available to cover that gap.

"The other concern was with regard to funding for

additional services. We have got an agreement with Airedale Primary Care Trust and Bradford Health Authority for funding and we are now in talks with North Yorkshire for extra resources."

The hospital has prepared a winter plan in conjunction with social services, health authorities, and both primary care trusts and groups in Bradford and North Yorkshire.

Measures to cope with the increase in patients include enhanced staffing at all levels and pre-admission visits by consultants to elderly people in nursing and residential homes.

The hospital has also just opened its new purpose-designed assessment ward, increased its number of critical care beds from five to seven and has employed a nurse consultant specialising in critical care. It has also opened up ward 22 from five days a week to six, with the option of opening on Sundays if needed.