‘Political maladministration' has led to an unacceptably high level of unsafe discharges from hospital, MPs have warned today.

A new report from the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee found delayed transfers of care and premature discharges were a persistent and widespread problem.

It found the historic split between health and social care meant that interdependent services are still being managed and funded separately.

The committee has called on the Government to tackle the structural disconnect between health and social care by taking further steps to integrate the two sectors.

Chairman of the Local Government Association's community wellbeing board, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, said: ‘Getting people out of hospital more quickly and back living at home will only work properly if councils get enough resource throughout the whole year to fund adequate provision of care services.

‘It is therefore pleasing that the committee recommends the Government sets out how it will adequately fund adult social care, and integrate health and social care plans across the country.'