A MAJOR new initiative to ease bed-blocking in Southampton has been unveiled by the city council.

A joint project between health and social care providers will see a new 16-bed rehabilitation unit for the elderly being built in Southampton.

The move comes in a bid to ease the problems of bed-blocking in the city, which leads to elderly patients being forced to stay in hospital because there are no suitable facilities available.

Funding for the £850,000 project is coming from the NHS and government regeneration funds - with the city council's social services contributing nothing.

The unit will be at Brownhill House in Maybush, a city council-run home that currently holds six rehabilitation beds for the elderly.

A report to a Cabinet meeting yesterday explained: "The aim of the service is to provide a local rehabilitation service in a domestic setting, for those aged 65 and over needing 24-hour care, for four to six weeks until such time as a safe discharge home is appropriate."

Labour councillor Richard Williams said the joint initiative with the health service was an example of best practice and other local authorities would be keen to learn from the city.

Council leader June Bridle said the Primary Care Trust needed to be aware the city council was very keen to work with them on similar projects in the future.

"This bodes well for the future," she said.

The Brownhill House beds will not be available until early 2003 and in the meantime 16 beds will be available at Northlands House in Northlands Road.