The Royal Free Hospital is discharging elderly patients too early, putting an increased strain on Barnet Council's social services, the council was told on Monday.

Councillor Fiona Bulmer told the council meeting at Hendon Town Hall that the closure of 55 beds at the hospital, in Pond Street, Hampstead, and 65 beds for elderly people at Queen Mary's House, East Heath Road, also in Hampstead, last August had negatively impacted on the borough.

"I am really concerned about the Royal Free," she said. "Older people are being discharged too early and the number of patients who are having to go back into hospital is increasing. The concerns are very, very serious."

Barnet's older adults' social services team had, she said, seen a 12 per cent increase in referrals to between August to December 2005, compared with the same period in 2004 (from 445 to 505), and a 20 per cent increase in the number of assessments they were asked to make (138 to 167). There has also been a 94 per cent increase in requests for equipment, such as wheelchairs and bath rails, (from 120 to 232) for people discharged.

She said one social worker reported three failed discharges in one week and added that patients who have been discharged are requesting more intensive and emergency social work support.

"It is going to put significant pressure on our budgets and it is clear that costs are being shunted from the health service on to councils," added Ms Bulmer.

A Royal Free spokeswoman pointed out that its own figures showed that the changes have not increased the number of emergency readmissions.

"There is good evidence that patients who do not require acute care recover better in their own homes, as long as adequate support is available.

"No patients are discharged without a clinician deciding that they are fit to leave hospital and, where necessary, a suitable care package being agreed."