Family left to buy dad wheelchair for hospital

THE family of a frail pensioner have spent hundreds of pounds on their own wheelchair after the hospital where he is a dementia patient could not provide one.

James Arthur, 76, is based at Edenhall Hospital in East Lothian and lost his mobility recently after suffering a stroke.

For weeks his family were unable to take him out of the ward because nurses said there were no wheelchairs available.

It left them with no choice but to invest 300 in a chair of their own in order to provide Mr Arthur with some fresh air and outdoor time.

NHS Lothian has admitted there was a wheelchair shortage on that ward, but said provision there was a priority and more would be introduced by the end of the week.

His son, James Jnr, 51, told the Evening News: "They had some chairs for general use up to the turn of the year, but they had to be taken out because they weren't fit for use.

"We waited but the replacements never arrived, meaning the only wheelchairs on the ward were privately owned, so we had to go out at the weekend and buy our own one."

Mr Arthur's family, from Gilmerton, said the inability to take the former lift engineer around the grounds was hampering his health and happiness, and nurses had told them no chairs would be available for the dementia ward.

"It's a lovely place out there, and we just wanted to get him out and get him some fresh air, otherwise he'd just be sat in his seat for the whole day," Mr Arthur added.

"It's been quite upsetting for him and my mother because you can really see the difference when they get outside.

"I just get the impression the ward is being run into the ground. You'd think of all the places you'd be able to get use of a wheelchair a hospital would be the best one.

"It's absolutely shocking."

The standard of dementia care across the Lothians has been criticised by leading charities and families, with this being the latest example.

Alzheimer Scotland said it was aware of concerns at the Royal Victoria elderly people's hospital in Craigleith, while relatives of patients also questioned resources available for the growing number of dementia cases in the area.

However, Jane Hopton, assistant general manager for the health board's East Lothian Community Health Partnership, said: "Although there are wheelchairs available at Edenhall Hospital, there is an increased demand for them as more patients and their families want to go outside in the sunny weather.

"We are sorry that not enough wheelchairs have been available recently and have made arrangements for more to be available at the hospital by the end of the week."