A joint project is being set up to bridge the gap between hospital and home in an attempt to ease a hospital's bed-blocking crisis.

The scheme, based at Parker House in Eastbourne, will help give extra support to elderly patients who no longer have to stay in hospital but need some short-term care.

Patients who stay in one of the seven "step down" beds at Parker House for a maximum of four weeks will have their own room and will be encouraged to be as independent as they can.

As well as support from care staff, a community nurse, physiotherapist and occupational therapist will also visit regularly to offer their specialist skills.

Health chiefs believe the scheme between Eastbourne District General Hospital, East Sussex Social Services, Eastbourne County Healthcare and a GP practice will help ease Eastbourne's bed-blocking crisis.

The Eastbourne DGH has suffered a summer of unprecedented bed-blocking, with a total of 70 beds, the equivalent of two wards, being taken up by patients fit for discharge but who have nowhere suitable to go.

It has led to the intervention of the town's Tory MP Nigel Waterson, who has challenged Health Secretary Alan Milburn to plough more cash for patient care after they have been discharged to free up more beds.

Martin Smits, chief nurse at the DGH, said: "This scheme is designed to help patients to increase their mobility and independence after a stay in hospital before going home.

"Although it will obviously help the hospital to cope with the problem of blocked beds, it will also be far better for the patients to be out hospital and on the road to going home."