Controversial plans to introduce bed blocking fines for social services departments could be delayed by at least a year.

The proposals to impose fines of up to £120 for every night an elderly patient stays in hospital unnecessarily were being discussed in the House of Lords today.

Conservative and Liberal Democrat peers say social services still lack the staff and care home places to tackle the problem.

They are confident of winning an amendment to the Community Care (Delayed Discharges) Bill that would delay implementation of the scheme until April 2004. If the proposals go ahead now, Brighton and Hove could face a bill of up to £1 million a year.

East Sussex County Council puts the figure at £2.5 million a year under current figures for delayed discharges.

West Sussex County Council has yet to calculate how badly it would be hit but the figure is certain to exceed £1 million, as it is responsible for looking after a greater number of elderly people than Brighton and Hove.

Brighton Kemp Town MP Des Turner is calling for the city to be given more time before the fines system is imposed.

He said the council was working hard to tackle the problem of elderly people taking up hospital beds after they are fit to be discharged.

He said the authority was faced with problems which were beyond its control such as a shortage of trained care workers in the homes which would be asked to take the elderly patients.

The Labour MP asked for clemency while the council tried to address the problems.

This would mean delaying the introduction of the fines, which are due to be enforced in the spring.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs hospitals in Brighton and Haywards Heath, regularly has nearly 100 patients waiting to be discharged.

The knock-on effect can lead to long waits in accident and emergency departments and cancelled operations because of bed shortages.

Health Minister Lord Hunt today insisted Peers would be wrong to attempt to delay the fines.

He said: "The incentive of introducing this Bill is designed to encourage everyone to sharpen up their act."