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The government is under increasing pressure to abandon its plans on delayed discharges from MPs who claim that no one in the sector is in support of the proposal.

David Hinchliffe, chairperson of the House of Commons health select committee and Labour MP for Wakefield, told MPs that last year's committee inquiry into plans to fine social services departments over delayed discharges had revealed no support from social services, health or voluntary organisations.

"Not even Department of Health officials appeared especially enthusiastic about it," he told MPs during last week's third reading of the Community Care (Delayed Discharges) Bill, which contains the proposal. Hinchliffe said he hoped that "even at this late stage" the government would withdraw the bill, which is now due to be debated in the House of Lords.


"I cannot support the bill," he said. "It is a bad measure that has not been thought through. It will damage the good, positive relationships between health and social services departments that the government has created in some areas."

Simon Burns, Conservative MP for West Chelmsford and shadow spokesperson for health, predicted that readmission rates for older people leaving hospital would increase over the next two years, and that people would be placed inappropriately to avoid fines.

He said that none of the social services departments his office had contacted, including those in the Prime Minister's constituency "had a smidgen of enthusiasm for fines" and all were worried about the amount they might have to pay.


Paul Burstow, Liberal Democrat MP for Sutton and Cheam, warned that it would "turn the patient into a commodity to be haggled over by social services departments and the NHS".

He added that the measure would result in social services prioritising hospital patients over vulnerable people in their own homes.

Concern was also raised about the way the bill had been rushed through the House of Commons. It was covered in just two sittings - half the time normally expected for a bill of its size.

George Young, Conservative MP for North West Hampshire, agreed that there had not been proper time to consider the bill and accused the minister of ignoring pleas to delay implementation until April 2004.