A CONNAH’S Quay man is ‘desperate’ to spend his limited time at home but is unable to be discharged from hospital.

David Howey, 76, was admitted to the Countess of Chester hospital with an infection and six weeks on is still there.

Despite battling lung and bone cancer, Mr Howey also suffered a fall in hospital on his way to the toilet, which resulted in a broken hip.

Wife Norma told our sister title The Leader they are ‘desperate’ to get him home, but no-one is fighting their corner or helping them.

She said: “He is a very unhappy man, he would love to be home, but he needs a large care package around him. This would need to include two people, four times a day, seven days a week.

“I’m unable to help with the lifting of Dave. I have problems with my back, and I will be 72 this year and don’t feel strong enough. It could be very unsafe.

“We have no one to speak for us, no-one is fighting our corner, we are on our own.

“Someone should be helping us; he didn’t ask for this. I understand he needs a large package of care, but he went into hospital unaided and now he is in a terrible state. It’s really pitiful. He should be at home.

“Time is limited. No one is listening, no one is helping. We are all trying to do our best.”

Norma said that he is also unable to be transferred to Deeside Community Hospital, but they just want David to return home.

She added: “He has pressure sores now which are very painful. He is unable to get out of bed unaided and spends most of the day in his chair or in bed.

“I’m not saying anything bad of the staff, they have really looked after him, they do a fantastic job with very poorly people.

“I’m fighting to get him home. It’s affecting me physically, emotionally and mentally. He is so unhappy in hospital; he is desperate to get home.

“He has been quite sick and has been fighting an infection and they have done a wonderful job with him, but he wants to be closer to me. He would feel better.

“I keep getting put off. It’s devastating when something like this happens, when your loved one has got a terminal illness. It’s really difficult to come to terms with but now we can’t even get him home.

“That’s where all the emotion comes from. He’s desperate to come out and keeps asking and pleading with me but my hands are tied.

“The Health Board must realise there are people who want to come home. I’m really struggling.”

A spokesman for the Countess of Chester Hospital said: “We cannot comment on individual patient cases but at The Countess, we work closely with our partners to make sure that appropriate arrangements for ongoing care are in place before we let patients go home or to a suitable place of care.”