McDonnell: I want woman to lead party

VISION John McDonnell

IFThis week we launched a campaign for a better care system. This is what we believe should be done: National Commission on how to fund the care revolution Living wage for carers End to 15-minute and shorter visits by carers Increase the Carer’s Allowance for unpaid carers Creation of a National Care System alongside the NHS Encourage a national system of volunteering to spend time with the elderly Appointment of a Minister for the Elderly DEMENTIA sufferer Dorothy Harman spent three months in a hospital bed because there was no space for her in a care home.

The 89-year-old great-grandmother was in supported living, spending her life savings on home visits, until she became unable to cope.

She went into hospital for the first time in her life in September 2017 with a cut to her head and was unable to leave the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth because none of the four care homes which accepted council-funded residents had any spaces.

Daughter Sam Evans said: “There were about 20 beds on mum’s ward and 18 of them had someone who was medically fit to be discharged but had nowhere to go.”

It was only when Sam invited in local TV crews to discuss her mum’s plight that the local council found her a place.

Sam added: “All this is so very sad.”