SECOND VICTIM OF ELDERLY NHS CARE SHORTAGES 140-mile round trip to see dementia dad
A DEVOTED daughter blasted the NHS after facing a three-hour, 140-mile daily round trip to see her dementia-stricken dad.
Joan Martin, 56, must travel from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, after her father Bill, 88, was moved to the nearest free bed – in Preston, Lancashire.
Joan’s ordeal follows our revelation two weeks ago that Madge Bazley, 82, faces a daily 260-mile, five-hour round trip, also from Furness, to see dementia victim tim husband Bill, 82, in Dewsbury,wsbury, Yorkshire.
Joan’s oan’s dad Bill was initially ially taken to nearby Furness General Hospital spital on March 4.
When it could not t l onger meet et Bill’s specialist cialist needs,eds, he was s sent to t he Carleton clinic, in Carlisle – leaving J Joan with a 168-mile round trip. Now Bill has been moved cl oser, to
Meadow Bank c care home in Preston, but that still means a 140-mile round trip.
Full-time carer Joan makes the trek alone as stepmum Vera has had a stroke.
“It’s heartbreaking,” she said. “I’m lucky to get an hour-and-a-half with him.”
Bill was sectioned under the Mental Health Act and qualified for specialist aftercare, saving the family up to £800 a week on care home costs.
Barrow and Furness Labour MP John Woodcock said: “Promised extra beds have been delayed far too long.” CORRIE actor Qasim Akhtar shows his bruised and bloodied face after a freak accident while exercising.
The star, Zeedan Nazir in the ITV soap, was training on his patio and passed out, injuring his head as he fell. He posted the shot at A&E and said: “Sudden rush of blood to my head and hit the stone deck. Great start to the weekend.”
Qasim, 25, was sent home with painkillers. A studio source said: “Bosses will see how he looks on Monday.”