A care home manager has said it’s “criminal” that hospital patients are not being discharged to empty care home beds.

Michael Daley, manager at Cavell Lodge in Leigh-on-Sea and chair of the South Essex Care and Health Association, said there were 45 empty beds at 17 care homes in the area.

“If you are in hospital for weeks on end, I think it’s pretty criminal to be honest,” Daley told the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

“I don’t understand why they are not being placed in some of these [care homes]. We’re in a crisis situation. Surely it would be better to move somebody elderly into a warm home, which is more homely than keeping them in an acute area blocking the bed for somebody that needs it.”

The association’s register showed one care home in Southend, which is rated Requires Improvement, had 15 unoccupied beds, while a Good rated care home in Westcliffe, had nine empty beds.

Southend-on-Sea City Council has a policy of avoiding placement at homes which are rated Inadequate or Requires Improvement.

Cllr Kay Mitchell, cabinet member for adult social care and health integration, said: “The Care Quality Commission is clear that services rated Good are delivering care that is the minimum people should expect and deserve to receive and at Southend-on-Sea City Council we wholeheartedly support that view.

“Care homes which have been rated Requires Improvement or Inadequate have found to not be delivering that good quality care by the independent national inspectorate, and I’m surprised the Care Home Association are suggesting we put our residents in care homes where they might not receive the level of care they need.

“We work closely with local NHS services and care providers, including care homes, to support people to leave hospital. We all know that being at home with the right support is the best option for most people and Southend-on-Sea City Council has jointly invested around £1 million with the NHS in an enhanced discharge team that is supporting people to get home.

“I’m very proud that we have so few people waiting in hospital for home care because of the work of that team. We keep in regular contact with care homes to find appropriate beds for the small number of people who need them, and I would encourage care homes who are Good or Outstanding and who have beds that could accept someone from hospital to contact us.”