A rise in apparent bed-blocking in hospitals has sparked a row between health and social care professionals.

Devising support packages for those ready to leave hospital has proven tough thus leaving patients in much needed beds across the country.

Figures from the Department of Health show that the number of patients whose discharge from English acute hospitals was delayed rose to 2,575 at the end of December compared to 2,305 at the end of November.

In response to the snapshot figures, health secretary Andrew Lansley has pumped in an extra £162m for the rest of 2010-2011 in order to help people leave hospital quickly and safely through increased funding for home care and short term residential care.

It is unclear whether this is short time spike in bed-blocking is due to the sudden winter flu epidemic which is adding pressure to an already stretched system but social care directors do not think this will be a long term trend.

Instead, they place the blame at the feet on the NHS, claiming the reduced number of hospital beds are causing the delays.

One director was cited on Communitycare.co.uk as saying: "My staff have worked solidly clearing beds over the Christmas and New Year periods. Our hospital social workers are on 8am-8pm seven-day-a week contracts, coming in at weekends and working every evening to clear beds.''