Shocking figures today show the extent to which people are waiting for hours in A&E and thousands are languishing on trolleys for hours before being admitted to overcrowded wards, because people are becoming trapped in hospital once they have been treated - and the amount of money that it is costing taxpayers.

Liz Kendall MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, said the number of delayed discharges from hospital, which could be avoided if elderly people had the right care and support in the community or at home, has soared by 65 per cent since the 2010 General Election.

Over the last year, these delays have cost £260 million. This could have paid for nearly 6,300 community nurses, or an entire year of home care visits for over 37,500 older people.

Liz Kendall MP said:

“These appalling figures show the scale of the crisis in care that has developed under David Cameron.

“Increasing numbers of frail, elderly people are ending up going to A&E and getting stuck in hospital because they can’t get the care they need to help them stay living at home. This isn’t good for them, and costs the taxpayer far more.

“Delayed discharges cost £260 million in the last year alone – money which could have paid for a year of home visits for 37,000 elderly people or nearly 6,300 nurses.

“Alongside today’s A&E figures, which show the four-hour waiting target has been missed for the 65^th week in a row, the choice is now clear: the NHS going backwards under the Tories, or Labour’s plans to join up health and social care so we get the best care for patients and the best value for taxpayers’ money.”