THE plight of a wheelchair-bound man left languishing in Galloway Community Hospital for more than six months is finally over.
Brian Gibson – who is unable to walk due to a medical condition – had been trapped in the Stranraer hospital since he was first admitted in August last year due to a lack of suitable housing.
Now he is poised to swap his bed at the hospital for a specially adapted house in Minnigaff after landlords, Wheatley Homes South, found a suitable property that will allow Brian to return to his daily life alongside wife Tracy.
News of Brian’s release from hospital has been been welcomed by Galloway and West MSP Finlay Carson – who took Brian’s case directly to the First Minister.
Mr Carson said: “It is wonderful news that Brian will finally be allowed to leave the hospital and resume his life again.
“Despite being fit for discharge he was unable to leave because his current home was deemed inaccessible due to a change in his health.
“As we already know bed blocking is already putting an enormous strain on the NHS that wasn’t helped by the SNP Government slashing funding to social landlords to carry out aids and adaptations that allow people to live independently in suitable homes.”
