A ROW broke out last night over claims that £1.8m allocated to tackle NHS bed-blocking had gone missing.

Durham City MP Gerry Steinberg told Health Secretary Alan Milburn there was confusion over money targeted at helping the County Council provide extra places in care homes for elderly patients in hospital beds.

The MP told the Commons: "I was told that Durham County Council social services department had not received the money from the primary care trust."

But Peter Kemp, Social Services director for Durham County Council, said the cash had already been spent.

"I wrote to all the Durham MPs on November 14 enclosing a copy of the letter I had sent to the Social Services Inspectorate outlining how the money has been spent, so I am at a loss that there is any uncertainty over where this money has gone," said Mr Kemp.

Expenditure included £1.1m to buy private residential and nursing home places for patients; £100,000 for equipment to enable patients to go back to their homes; £383,000 on a pooled NHS budget to fund intensive rehabilitation and intermediate care; £90,000 to help carer organisations and £130,000 to Age Concern, who are partners in the initiative.