A PENSIONER is still languishing in the Alexandra Hospital almost four months after being admitted, due to a lack of NHS funding for a nursing home placement.

Edward Bishop, 84, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, was admitted on May 6 for a bowel operation.

But Mr Bishop's daughter Frances Rosser has been pushing Worcestershire Health Authority to find him a nursing home place for more than a month following numerous assessments of his health.

The Advertiser highlighted Mr Bishop's plight in early August after his state of health had been deteriorating, but Mrs Rosser says he is now stabilising and should be moved soon.

Mrs Rosser said: "He's been there for a long time now and has been reviewed about three times, so we are very concerned.

"We've been told he's at the top of the waiting list but that's no way of predicting what happens.

"He's already spent his 59th wedding anniversary in hospital and he's 85 on September 16 so we just hope something happens before then.

Mrs Rosser added: "He's been there long enough and it is so hard for him and my mother, so unless some money is released soon he could be there a long time."

Mrs Rosser has also recruited the help of Redditch MP Jacqui Smith who has written back saying she will investigate the situation.

Health authority communications manager, Janet Ferguson, said the average waiting time for such a patient was about two months and the authority had cleared many similar cases after £1million was released earlier this year.

She added: "A place will become available for this gentleman within the next four weeks.

"This will enable him to transfer to the nursing home of his choice."