A new survey has revealed that 16 councils were fined for delayed transfers of care in 2016/17, a move branded as ‘frankly bizarre’ by the country’s most senior care director.

The survey by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (ADASS) showed that individual fines were as high as £280,540. Of these, ten councils paid the fine.

So far in 2017/18, eight councils have been fined, with fines as high as £99,970. Six councils have paid the fine.

Only half of the respondents believed their agreed delayed transfer of care (DTOC) targets were realistic for both social care and the NHS.

Margaret Willcox, president of ADASS, said it was ‘frankly bizarre’ that authorities should face further sanctions.

Ms Willcox told The MJ in a wide-ranging interview that the relentless emphasis on getting people out of hospital was ‘short-sighted’ as demand from working age adults with disabilities began to outweigh the financial impacts of older people.