AN NHS hospital has pulled out of an Airbnb-style scheme to put up recovering patients in strangers’ homes after the plans faced a backlash over safety risks.

Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, which had been set to pilot the scheme, said it had no intention of taking part as the plans could “compromise the safety and quality of care of patients.”

It comes after plans emerged on Wednesday for patients to be moved into locals’ homes as a way to ease “bed-blocking” on busy wards.