A WHEELCHAIR-bound Haslemere man who has spent more than a year in Haslemere Hospital because he has nowhere else to live, has spoken out this week about his plight.
John Denyer (64), a patient in Elizabeth Ward who should have been discharged 14 months ago, told The Herald that he was "demoralised, depressed and utterly fed up".
He believes the reason why he cannot go to Hydon Hill is the cost involved.
"I've been up there and seen the place, it is fantastic," said Mr Denyer, who spent a week at the home for a trial period of respite care.
"What is more important, the money or the person?" asked Mr Denyer in his letter, a copy of which he sent to the Prime Minister Tony Blair, along with another to the Haslemere Herald.
With just two months to go before his 65th birthday, he fears that he could end up in a nursing home far from the area in which he has lived for more than 30 years.
In the early 1980s, Mr Denyer was honoured in the Queen's New Year Honours with a British Empire Medal. It was awarded for 31 years' service as a first aider with St John Ambulance. It was, he said " the proudest moment of my life".
He also attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace where he was introduced to Prince Philip.
As well as his association with Haslemere branch of St John, Mr Denyer is also well-known as a founder member of Haslemere Border Athletic Club, and the Haslemere Twinning Association.
A single man with no close relatives, he became disabled following a fall at his flat in Hindhead two years ago when he fractured his hip.
He developed a severe form of arthritis which left him unable to walk. He is now confined to a wheelchair and has to be lifted by hoist.
Mr Denyer said he was "disgusted" that he was forced to pay £3,000 to buy his own chair because he claimed he would otherwise have had to wait at least six months to get the special wheelchair he needed, through social services.
A regular visitor to Darnley's restaurant in the High Street, Mr Denyer said: "In the beginning the hospital wouldn't let me out without an escort but now I can get out and about by myself."
Although he still has the tenancy on his flat which is looked after by a friend, Mr Denyer cannot move back into his home because of access problems and wants to give it up.
'I don't want to go into a nursing home," said Mr Denyer, who was offered places out of the district in Farnborough and an unsuitable unit at East Meon in East Hampshire.
He now lives in a single room at King Edward VII Hospital in Midhurst, along with other patients from Elizabeth Ward, because of building work at Haslemere Hospital.
"It's just as though I have been left on the shelf. I am supposed to be on the top of the list but nothing seems to happen apart from being sent to places that are not suitable," said an unhappy John Denyer.
This week Rosemary Parry, the general manager for community services in the Haslemere locality, confirmed that Mr Denyer had been ready for discharge for 14 months.
"He is obviously distressed that his discharge package is taking such a long time to resolve, which is causing a great deal of concern and anxiety."
Also working on his behalf is local MP Virginia Bottomley who was pictured with Mr Denyer on the front of her recent election leaflet.
"It is a disgraceful state of affairs and is a further example of the deteriorating situation for public services in Surrey.
"I have had a series of meetings with residential homes for elderly and disabled people and all are approaching crisis point."
A spokesman for Surrey social services said it "deeply regretted the time that it has taken to find Mr Denyer a suitable placement.
"Our care manager is working very hard and is in regular contact with Mr Denyer and when a suitable placement has been established, a care plan will be carefully drawn up with Mr Denyer's agreement," said the spokesman.
In the meantime, said the spokesman, Mr Denyer "could raise any concerns he might have with his care manager so they can be resolved".