Patient’s family protests at move

The family of an 81-year-old man with learning difficulties, who
has spent the past 65 years in the same hospital, are objecting to
his possible discharge.

The man is a patient at the Royal Scottish National Hospital in
Larbert. His niece has enlisted the support of Martin O’Neill,
Labour MP for Clackmannan.

A spokesperson for O’Neill said: ‘The man’s niece was told that
patients resident before 1960 would be allowed to see out their
time at the hospital.

‘But the next she heard was that his name was down for an old
people’s home. He was supposed to be having a multi-disciplinary
assessment, but none of that appeared to be happening.’

Bill Gent, clinical director of the Scotland Health Care Trust,
denied the man had been told to leave hospital. ‘No decision has
been taken and an assessment by social workers is taking
place.’

A Central social work department spokesperson said: ‘We are
doing an assessment and the results will be based on where the
patient wants to go and the wishes of his family.’