A 79-year-old dementia sufferer has been stuck at Llandrindod Wells hospital for almost two months, because the county council can’t afford to give her family a loan to fund a place at a specialist care home.
Muriel Eggerton suffers with epilepsy, osteo-arthritis and was diagnosed with vascular dementia on Clywedog assessment ward on March 24.
Her daughter, Jackie Eggerton-Phillips has been told her mum needs 24 hour nursing care in a specialist home, and a bed has been found at Gibraltar House in Monmouth, close to where Jackie lives.
Muriel is entitled to a weekly payment for nursing needs and would have to hand over her £130 a week pension to contribute to the cost of her care, but to meet the cost Jackie needs a deferred loan from Social Services, which she will pay back in full once her mother’s house is sold.
Muriel’s social worker has applied for funding from Powys County Council twice, but it has been deferred because of a shortage of funding.
The council says social services is already facing a £2 million shortfall and demand is far out-stripping resources.
Jackie said: “I live in Gilwern and I am the only relative my mum has apart from her sister who lives in America. If my mother was able to take up this place in Gibralter House I could visit her every day and give her the emotional support she needs.
“This whole experience has been very traumatic for her; she has been taken from her home of 36 years and has been in strange environments since her hospital admission.
“Her vascular dementia means she gets confused and has hallucinations. She needs routine, consistency and familiar surroundings.
“My mum is receiving excellent care from all the staff on Clywedog Ward but this ongoing deferment is in no way fair on my mum because she is on an assessment ward where consultants and patients come and go; she does not have her own room and there are strangers around all the time.
“My mum needs to be housed in Gibraltar House where she will be able to settle in a permanent home.
“She is a vulnerable, elderly woman who is now being kept in hospital due to the fact that her funding application has not yet been agreed, which is not good for my mum’s condition. She is also taking up a much needed hospital bed – bed blocking – which could be freed up for someone who actually needs the assessment process.
“It is totally unfair and unacceptable that my mum is being placed in a position whereby she may lose her offer of a bed at Gibraltar House. She has suffered enough already.”
Jackie has written to Brecon and Radnorshire MP Roger Williams, Assembly Member Kirsty Williams, Deputy Minister for Social Services, and local councillor Mike Hodges to highlight her situation.
A spokesperson for Powys County Council said: “We fully understand the concerns expressed over the funding delay, however the council has limited resources and budgets are currently fully committed.
“The poor budget settlement and an increase in service pressures, exacerbated by the economic downturn which has resulted in a greater demand on public funding, means demand is far outstripping available resources.
“We review cases on a regular basis and maintain regular contact with all families concerned, but the service is facing a near £2million shortfall,” he warned.
