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| Norfolk woman's five-month hospital stay due to carer shortage | Norfolk woman's five-month hospital stay due to carer shortage |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Jane Garrett was declared fit to be discharged in June but remains in hospital | Jane Garrett was declared fit to be discharged in June but remains in hospital |
| A 91-year-old man said he was desperate for his wife to come home from hospital, five months after she was first admitted. | A 91-year-old man said he was desperate for his wife to come home from hospital, five months after she was first admitted. |
| Jane Garrett, 90, was admitted to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in May after having a fall. | |
| She was declared fit for discharge in June, but as no suitable carers are available where the couple live, near Dereham, she remains in hospital. | She was declared fit for discharge in June, but as no suitable carers are available where the couple live, near Dereham, she remains in hospital. |
| Norfolk County Council said it was "very sorry" to hear of the situation. | Norfolk County Council said it was "very sorry" to hear of the situation. |
| Jane and Derek met on a double date while serving in the RAF | Jane and Derek met on a double date while serving in the RAF |
| Derek Garrett said his wife meant "the world" to him. | Derek Garrett said his wife meant "the world" to him. |
| "She is my life," he said. "Quite honestly, I don't know how I've managed so long without her. | "She is my life," he said. "Quite honestly, I don't know how I've managed so long without her. |
| "I do love her so much". | "I do love her so much". |
| Mr Garrett said he had seen his wife of 71 years "deteriorate in hospital". | Mr Garrett said he had seen his wife of 71 years "deteriorate in hospital". |
| "She's gone downhill to the extent that sometimes she doesn't even know me," he said. | "She's gone downhill to the extent that sometimes she doesn't even know me," he said. |
| Mr Garrett and his son Colin said they were unable to find suitable carers that could operate a hoist | Mr Garrett and his son Colin said they were unable to find suitable carers that could operate a hoist |
| Mrs Garrett requires carers four times a day that can operate a hoist, but the family said it had been impossible to find the right care in the rural area they live in. | Mrs Garrett requires carers four times a day that can operate a hoist, but the family said it had been impossible to find the right care in the rural area they live in. |
| The couple's son, Colin Garrett, who lives in Chelmsford, Essex, said it felt as though people "have to wait for someone to pass away" for their carers to become available. | The couple's son, Colin Garrett, who lives in Chelmsford, Essex, said it felt as though people "have to wait for someone to pass away" for their carers to become available. |
| Mr Garrett said he had been told his wife was "bed blocking" | Mr Garrett said he had been told his wife was "bed blocking" |
| "She doesn't want to be there," he said. "I don't want her to be there. | "She doesn't want to be there," he said. "I don't want her to be there. |
| "Why won't they let her come out of hospital and let me take care of her? | "Why won't they let her come out of hospital and let me take care of her? |
| "I've got a bedroom up there absolutely kitted out, including a teddy bear, ready for her to come home. | "I've got a bedroom up there absolutely kitted out, including a teddy bear, ready for her to come home. |
| "I go in there every night and say 'good night, darling'. | "I go in there every night and say 'good night, darling'. |
| "Please let her come home." | "Please let her come home." |
| Mr Garrett has a room set up for his wife to return home | Mr Garrett has a room set up for his wife to return home |
| Norfolk County Council said: "We all do our very best to help people home as soon as we can arrange the support they need." | Norfolk County Council said: "We all do our very best to help people home as soon as we can arrange the support they need." |
| The spokesperson said the number of people needing social care support after leaving hospital had increased and there were "recruitment challenges" across health and social care. | The spokesperson said the number of people needing social care support after leaving hospital had increased and there were "recruitment challenges" across health and social care. |
| "There are occasions when co-ordinating and bringing together the right care package to help people home is difficult to achieve as quickly as everyone would like," the spokesperson said. | "There are occasions when co-ordinating and bringing together the right care package to help people home is difficult to achieve as quickly as everyone would like," the spokesperson said. |
| A spokesperson from NHS Norfolk and Waveney said the local health and care system was "under significant and sustained demand". | A spokesperson from NHS Norfolk and Waveney said the local health and care system was "under significant and sustained demand". |
| They added that funding had been increased to strengthen home support and increase community bed capacity. | They added that funding had been increased to strengthen home support and increase community bed capacity. |
| Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk | Find BBC News: East of England on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. If you have a story suggestion email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk |