Half-way houses

When patients are medically fit to be discharged out of an acute hospital bed, but they have dementia / acopia / will not be able to go back home, then they can go into either Rest Homes, or Nursing Homes. However, when I was on placement, here in the Souh of England, I came across the problem of 'bed-locking', where due to the shortage of places in these Homes, the patients ended up just staying in the hospital beds.... even for a matter of months.
I have seen 'half-way houses' set up, where the patients just stay there, with not necessarily 'specialised' nursing, but just to wait until a place is available.
Does anyone have any info on 'bed-locking', think of any management issues that arise from this, and think of any practical solutions??

A very common problem. It is very expensive to keep patients in hospital, up to $ 1000,- p/d so they really want to move them. In Aus patients also stay in hospital until a NH is found (where I worked). Half way houses are good I suppose, but the problem still remains that there is not enough space in the nursing homes. Why spend money on half(way) care if they can spend it on complete care? Or is this too logical??