Ref. 71837-19A 93-YEAR-OLD great-grandmother has been waiting for six months to move from a hospital ward into a nursing home.

But overstretched care bosses say there is a chronic lack of places and are unable to help even though it's costing £100 a day to keep her in hospital.

Now the family of Mary Braybrooke, has demanded action before her health deteriorates further.

Mrs Braybrooke, a former resident of Wick House residential home in Liden, entered Great Western Hospital in February to have a hernia operation.

But after two operations, specialists declared that she required around-the-clock care which is not given by residential homes.

Instead they said she needed to go into a nursing home. But the Avon and Wiltshire NHS Trust Mental Health Partnership, which is responsible for finding a place for her, have drawn a blank.

Son Tony, 69, sent a letter to the trust on August 10 to complain about his mother's treatment. A few days ago he received a reply from Gill McKinnon, service manager for Old Age Psychology at Victoria Hospital.

The letter read: "It is difficult to provide an adequate response to these concerns. Mrs Braybrooke is physically and mentally in a poor way and as a result requires a level of specialist nursing care.

"Such provision is in very short supply in Swindon with only two homes currently providing such care and even then in only 50 per cent of their beds."

Mr Braybrooke, of Bryanstone Way, Nythe, said it was suggested that he tried neighbouring county, Gloucestershire or even Southampton where his sister now lives. But the retired army warrant officer said it's not good enough. "My mother lived in a village near Chepstow until she moved to Wick House to be nearer me," he said. "We have decided that she is better off staying here where I can visit her daily. My sister has her hands full as it is looking after her handicapped son. Mum is deteriorating by the day and sometimes she doesn't even recognise me.

"It is absolutely disgusting that for a town the size of Swindon they have to use a hospital bed to look after a pensioner who should be in a nursing home. I am not having a go at the nurses at GWH who are doing a fantastic job.

"The way it's looking at the moment with the lack of money around for these services I just hope that I pass through quickly.

"My late father was in the army and my son is now serving his country. We expect better."

Lucy Robinson, spokeswoman for the trust, said: "The team is continuing to make every effort to find an appropriate place for Mrs Braybrooke. We take the individual needs of patients very seriously."

Kevin Shoesmith