A COPY of the following letter has also been sent to Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon.

LAST November the “Courier” kindly printed my letter describing my one-and-a-half hour journey by bus to visit my husband in Tiverton Hospital.

My main concerns had been: 1. The closure of beds in Crediton Hospital; 2. The lack of a direct bus route from Crediton to Tiverton and 3. The detrimental effects of long-term stay in hospital for the elderly.

This letter is an update to the situation. My husband was in Tiverton Hospital for four months. My daily journey was only made bearable by the fact that several friends were willing and able to take me by car (on the scenic route which is truly beautiful via Windwhistle Hill and Cadbury Castle) three or four times a week, leaving only three or four weekly bus journeys through the winter.

After a few weeks in the hospital, discharge home was considered - on the condition that I could get two carers to come in and help me four times a day.

This proved impossible, despite continual telephone calls to local care agencies.

The discharge team was totally inflexible and would not consider me as one of the carers.

Attempts to get respite for my husband in the three local residential homes failed. They were under pressure and limited to who they could admit. St Lawrence Residential Care Home stands empty.

After Christmas it was deemed by the discharge team that my husband should go to a nursing home. This was not our wish. I had to insist that it should be as near as possible to Crediton - which was in effect Exeter.

He was finally discharged on February 12. I now have a three-quarter to one hour’s journey on two buses, but this is more manageable and I can visit any time.

So I am now rattling about in an empty home and my husband is living eight miles away amongst strangers.

Is this what local and national Government mean by “care in the community”?

1. No local hospital beds

2. Poor public transport to Tiverton Hospital

3. The closure of the local nursing home

4. Lack of sufficient carers working in the area to cover the needs of residents (or requirement of the hospital in this case).

I am left emotionally and physically exhausted and still finding it difficult to come to terms with the end result of this four month battle.

Name and address supplied