Jeannett Martin, of the Royal College of Nurses, said: "Clearly, if a person is well enough to leave hospital, then they should not stay there for a prolonged period of time. But rather than condemning individuals as "bed-blockers," we need to look at why they are unable to leave hospital. Community health services, and district nursing teams in particular have been cut back over recent years and we know that many are under real strain. If families feel that they cannot cope at home, we need to look at why that is and what support should be available for them and their relative that is in need of care. And a spokeswoman for the Royal College of Physicians said: "The most important thing is that everyone acts in the best interests of the patient. We think it isn't in anyone's best interest to take legal action against families.