A NEWPORT care home owner says the council's offer to pay more to beat hospital bed-blocking will not stop homes closing.

Newport private care homes and the council are in a long-running dispute over the cost of council-funded places, and Councillor Eddie Burke, cabinet member for adult services, told a council meeting the council would increase its fees to private homes by a rate likely "to be above inflation".

Councillor William Graham told colleagues: "I am concerned about the patients and the elderly. There is 95% occupancy at the Royal Gwent Hospital.

"Topping up should be allowed and is permitted by most authorities in Wales."

But after the meeting Alan Darlow, who runs three homes in Newport, said afterwards that the amount was insignificant and the council must let relatives "top up" care home fees to help end the hospital bed-blocking crisis.

He said pressure on hospital beds could be eased if patients or their families could top up the council contribution to private care home beds.

Mr Darlow wants private homes to be paid £500 a week for a bed, rather than the current range of £420 to £450. The council does not allow the difference to be made up by the patient.

The stand-off means patients who are fit to leave hospital but need further care cannot use the empty private beds. There were 57 Newport people bed-blocking the area's hospitals at the end of December.

Mr Darlow, who offers 110 beds in three homes throughout the city, said: "I could provide three or four beds today if the council would allow us to take third party top-up payments.

"I will demolish a home if this goes on, and others will probably close. We're getting £2.40 an hour to give a patient 24-hour care.

"It costs taxpayers £500 a patient more to leave the patient in hospital. "Councillor Burke has fobbed the issue off. What's inflation? Two or three per cent. It's not enough."

Councillor Burke said after the council meeting: "We oppose top-up payments. The family shouldn't have the burden of fees passed onto them.

"Newport is among the top three in Wales in the amounts paid to private homes."