AN ANNAN man has been confined to hospital in Langholm and unable to leave despite being cleared as medically well for eight weeks.
The family of 65-year-old Steven Nixon are fighting to get him home, but are worried he could now be sent to Sanquhar.
Following a traumatic brain injury, Steven has lived alone in an adapted bungalow in Annan for over 20 years, confined to a wheelchair.
He ended up in Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary (DGRI) on July 1 after his carers were concerned he could not be alone at home any more.
Despite being cleared as medically well by staff at DGRI, he was unable to return home without two carers in attendance at each visit, and was therefore transferred to Thomas Hope Hospital in Langholm due to lack of space in Annan Hospital on July 14, where he remains to this day.
His daughter Jenna Nixon is distraught at the situation and desperate to get him home.
She said: “He has visits four times a day (at home in Annan) to assist with dressing, mealtimes, outings and bedtime, and we had employed two carers through the direct payment service.
“While this had been working well for a few months, due to my dad’s age his mobility has begun to deteriorate.
“It got to a point where he was requiring two carers at each visit to help him mobilise and they felt he wasn’t safe to be left alone for long periods in case he had a fall.
“We spoke to social work and he had multiple visits from his GP, but there were no carers or care packages available to increase his visits. His carer ended up calling NHS 111 as she did not feel comfortable leaving him unattended.”
Jenna and her family are trying to keep up Steven’s spirits up but getting across to Langholm regularly is hard for some who can’t drive or have work and family commitments.
Jenna added: “He is miserable. He wants to go home to his own house and the environment he’s known for the last 20 years.”
And the situation has just got even worse as the carers have now quit and the hospital at Langholm have suggested interim care in a home at Sanquhar until his package is sorted.
Jenna added: “Sanquhar is impossible to visit, which would make him even more miserable.
“To add to this, the two carers that we did have before he went to hospital are no longer able to care for him – so instead of two carers, we now need four.”
Appealing for anyone who can help to get in touch, she added: “We, as a family, are trying to pull together to see if we can cover the care needed but it’s almost impossible when everyone already has jobs.
“It’s sad to see people in this state and I know it’s happening more and more.”
Infuriated by the situation, South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth said: “Steven and his family’s experience is horrendous and a symptom of the social care system which is utterly broken.
“Sadly, it is not an isolated case and has become the norm for far too many families.
“We have dozens of people across our region being dumped in hospitals and care homes by the NHS and social work, when they are medically fit to be at home, for no other reason than there are no carers to support them in their own house.
“Often they are miles from their home and that actually damages their health. Keeping people away from neighbours, families and friends is nothing short of state sponsored cruelty.
“This care crisis is a scandal that should shame us all, and frankly the government needs to give it the same attention as the pandemic.”
NHS Dumfries and Galloway declined to comment due to patient confidentiality.
