A NEW Kendal business is hoping to help tackle the bed blocking crisis by keeping its clients healthy, happy and active.

Westmorland Homecare offers companionship, personal care and home help to those wish to live at home but need assistance.

Founded by Dr Joshua Macaulay and Dr Christopher Moss from Westmorland General Hospital, the duo want to 'do things differently'.

Dr Macaulay said: “Patients inevitably decline whilst in hospital. They lose mobility, lose their independence and sadly some never make it home.

"This is the heart-breaking reality of the elderly in our community being trapped in hospital. I will never forget a lady I cared for in hospital who was ready to go home but caught an infection whilst waiting for a care package and tragically died before she could get back.

"We knew something had to be done. The gold standard of care is to keep people out of hospital in the first place and when they are admitted, to get them back home as soon as they are ready."

Bed blocking made the headlines last week after Age UK published that in 2016/17 alone, nearly one million hospital bed days were lost (954,799) due to an inability to access social care, with an excess cost of £173 million excluding equipment and adaptations.

And there have been reports of a company called CareRooms planning an 'AirBnB' style pilot which would see around 30 patients waiting for discharge from hospital stay with local residents who have a spare room or annex.

CareRooms is recruiting 'hosts' - who do not need any previous care experience - in Essex who could earn up to £50 a night putting up people recuperating from a hospital stay.

However an NHS England spokesman said this suggestion was a 'long way' from being implemented and would first need to be 'very carefully assessed and tested'.

The pair behind Westmorland Homecare hope that by offering high quality care, more individuals who are ready to leave hospital will be able to do so.

Prevention is also at the heart of the business plan and the pair have recruited and trained staff to deliver care that will help to keep people out of hospital in the first place.

"The gold standard of care is to keep people out of hospital in the first place and when they are admitted, to get them back home as soon as they are ready," Dr Macaulay said. "Everyone should be free to enjoy their life in their own home, surrounded by the memories that make up their lifetime. That’s why Westmorland Homecare was born. As they say, there’s no place like home!"

The pair is currently redeveloping the old amusement arcade adjacent to the Fleece Inn in Kendal, replacing the shop front in line with the heritage status of the building.

And the company is set to recruit 100 care staff over its first 12 months as well as five further office staff.

Anybody interested in employment or help at home from Westmorland Homecare can contact Dr Macaulay directly on 01539 725107, email dr.macaulay@westmorlandhomecare.co.uk or visit their website for more information www.westmorlandhomcare.co.uk