INSPECTORS have been called in to Bracknell after the town's health and social care partners were ranked the seventh worse in the country, a rating the council disputes.

Figures released by the Department of Health (DoH) last week puts Bracknell Forest at 143rd of 150 in a table ranking the work between health services, such as NHS hospitals, and the care sector.

Metrics such as how many emergency admissions were made and how long patients stayed in hospital beds were included, with Bracknell's mean score putting it just below Hartlepool and South Tyneside.

Now the Care Quality Commission will inspect the town's health and social services along with 11 other authority's.

The inspections will help the DoH work out how best to get councils and hospitals working together ahead of the busy winter period.

Gill Vickers, director of adult social care, health and housing, said: “Bracknell Forest Council welcomes what is clearly a positive initiative aimed at improving health and social care integration.

"However, we are surprised Bracknell Forest has been highlighted as in particular need of support.

“The latest data, which is readily available to the Department of Health, shows a performance level well in line with the rest of the country.

"For example, the ‘91 days’ metric used by the Department of Health is based on data from 2015.

"The latest available data shows our most recent performance is at 91 per cent, not 58 per cent as per the report.

“While we are always looking to improve our level of integration with our NHS partners, and are welcoming of feedback, we’d always recommend improvement programmes take into account the most recent data.”

The DoH was asked why the report used old figures, but no response was received by publication.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said: “No one should stay in hospital longer than necessary – it undermines people’s dignity and reduces their quality of life, while putting pressure on our hospitals and wasting taxpayers’ money.

“These new measures will ensure local authorities and local NHS partners play their part in tackling this issue to improve community transfers and ensure every patient has a health and care system that works for them.”