A Maryport woman has spoken out about the desperate situation her family is in as she - like many others - struggles to get care for a loved one.

Vivienne Paterson has discovered first hand how broken the care system is.

She has a relative on a ward in the West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, where patients, including her relative, are medically fit to be discharged but unable to go home because of a lack of capacity of carers.

Hospital bosses have confirmed this is a problem in all local hospitals - as it is throughout the country.

And Cumbria County Council, which is in charge of Adult Social Care, says "fundamental changes are needed to how the system works and is funded".

Vivienne's relative, John, is medically fit enough to leave hospital but is deteriorating mentally by the day as he is confined to a ward and unable to access the necessary stimulation.

Viv who works for Newsquest Cumbria, explained: "First of all, it is important to recognise the care he is getting. The staff are kind, understanding and rushed off their feet," said Vivienne.

"They work in a ward where the demands are many. It is a ward without bedside TV or phone so patients just lie or sit all day with very little to no stimulation.

"That increases their need for human companionship and many, including my relative, are constantly calling out for nurses when they have no physical need to.

"John was a quiz fanatic. He loved Eggheads, Mastermind and University Challenge and could sometimes answer questions before the host had finished asking them.

"Now he is obsessed with which car we have come to visit him in. He has a no-spill beaker and is disappearing from us more each day.

"His family has tried everything but the fact is, there are not enough carers out there."

The family has tried every possible avenue to secure care.

"His family lives in fear of the fact that what will be discharged from hospital will be the body of the man they loved for but one with the mind of a strange child they do not know," said Vivienne.

"John is but one. I was told that many in his ward would be fit for discharge if a care package could be put in place.

"Many families will face heartbreak if nothing is done."

A spokesman from the North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust said: "We have seen a big increase in the number of patients who are medically fit to be discharged from hospital but are unable to be as they are waiting for a care package to be put in place.

"The issue is affecting all hospitals - acute and community, across the country.

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"Our priority is the safe care of our patients and the wider community and we are working closely with all of our partners to reduce this number so that our beds are available for people who need medical care and treatment.”

Cllr Stewart Young, leader of Cumbria County Council, said: “I absolutely understand the worry and frustration felt by families who have loved ones unable to leave hospital because home care packages are not available in the community.

"Right now the social care sector is experiencing both increasing demand and real challenges recruiting staff, that means people in need are waiting longer than they should for care.

"Both the pandemic and Brexit have played a huge part in creating this situation and we are doing all we can, with the funding available to us, to improve things.

"For example, over the winter period we created a £7m market sustainability fund to support care providers to recruit and retain staff, we also launched the Proud to Care Cumbria online jobs platform to attract new staff.

“The reality is that these are sticking plasters. This situation is playing out up and down the country but the Government has taken a piecemeal approach that doesn’t recognise that fundamental changes are needed to how the system works and is funded.”

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