The number of critical care beds in the district is set to increase this winter thanks a Government cash injection of almost £1 million.

Health Minister Lord Hunt has made £142.5 million available nationally to deal with the additional pressure on hospitals and social services over the winter period.

The plans include the creation of an extra 340 critical beds across the country for winter 2000.

A further £62 million has been provided for step down care for patients who are well enough to leave hospital but need support at home. A Bradford NHS Health Authority spokesman said the £982,000 set aside for this area was expected to provide an extra two high dependency unit beds at Airedale NHS Trust and an extra two intensive care beds at Bradford Hospitals NHS Trust.

At present Airedale has three intensive care beds and one high dependency unit bed while Bradford has six intensive care and four high dependency unit beds. The authority said it was developing a winter plan with social services in the district.

The Bradford NHS Health Authority spokesman said a number of schemes already operated in the district to ensure people could come home from hospital as soon as possible but would be well cared for at home.

These included:

l Equipment loan schemes.

l A voucher scheme which funds rehabilitation in nursing homes prior to returning home.

l The Handypersons scheme - run by Age Concern. Provides a handyperson paid for by the authority who carries out alterations to patients' homes to allow them to return home early.

Some of the funding will also be used to ensure the Bradford patients needing specialist care outside the district will also have improved access to services.