FEARS are growing that the North-East could be at the centre of a hospital bed-blocking crisis this winter.

The Government is increasingly facing demands for emergency measures after new figures revealed the number of elderly waiting for care home places had shot up in the North.

The Liberal Democrat conference in Bournemouth yesterday heard how the number of over-75s waiting for transfers out of hospitals in the region was almost four times the national average.

It comes as one health authority in North Yorkshire is forced to pay out £700,000 for care home places to free-up 100 hospital beds taken by the elderly.

It is feared the bed-blocking situation will lead to cancelled operations and longer waits in casualty.

Parliamentary written answers to Lib Dems' questions show that for the Northern and Yorkshire health region, the number of over-75s blocking beds rose from 89 in June 1999 to 185 by March this year - an increase of 108 per cent.

They blamed the crisis on a combination of care home closures and lack of investment in respite care for the elderly. Many hospital trusts in the region say they have drawn up plans to head off a winter crisis.

John Saxby, chief executive of South Durham NHS Trust, said the number of beds being blocked had risen from an average of 25 to 66 this month.

A Department of Health spokesman admitted there was a long-term crisis, which the Government was addressing.

He said the Lib Dems were selectively taking a low April-June figure and comparing it with a higher figure from a different time of year.

The crisis was predicted months ago by private care home owners fighting a battle with local authorities for higher fees to stop them going out of business.

Meanwhile, more than 50 care workers went on strike in a dispute over pay cuts in Hartlepool yesterday.

They took to the picket line at Charlotte Grange, Throston Grange Court and Gardner House.