A DISABLED Redditch man is cooped up in a hospital bed while the council and Primary Care Trust wrangle over who is responsible for making his home safe to live in.

David Chart, a multiple sclerosis sufferer, has been dubbed "the forgotten patient" after spending more than six months in hospital while he waits for an electronic door to be fitted to his new council house in Winyates.

His brother, Michael Chart, said: "You would not treat an animal the way they are treating David."

He added: "And the disgusting thing is, to fit the new door will cost about £2,500 but it is costing at least that much a week to keep him in hospital. What a ridiculous waste of money."

David, a well-liked youth leader at St Peter's Church, Ipsley, was admitted to the Alexandra Hospital in January after falling at his then home in Gorsey Close, Astwood Bank

When the accident happened, he was already waiting to move to the new, more suitable Winyates home but final adaptations were still needed to ensure it was safe to live in.

David featured on the front page of the Advertiser because he was thought to be one of the most popular patients the Alex had seen, receiving more than 120 bedside visits.

After two weeks there, he was transfered to Bromsgrove's Princess of Wales Community Hospital for rehabillitation and was fit for discharge at least three months ago.

But because of David's fall and the fact MS is a degenerative disease, an electronic door is now needed at the property and no one is accepting responsibility for getting the work done.

Michael said the council had said the funds were available but it was waiting for specifications from David's occupational therapist.

"It is a vicious circle. Someone just needs to stand up and take it on as their responsibility to sort out.

''Everyone is passing the buck while David just sits in hospital," added Michael.

"David is so frustrated, he just wants to get home now. After all the work he has done for the community, this is how he is treated."

But a council spokesman said: "We are responsible for carrying out work on receipt of a clear specification from the occupational therapist.

''Legislation prevents us from installing any adaptation until the client's needs have been professionally assessed.

''The council received a recommendation in June for a door entry system and we are presently awaiting a detailed specification from the occupational therapist.

''The council will arrange for the work to be carried out as soon as we have received this."

And a PCT spokeswoman said the work had been delayed while council funding was secured.

"The council had already done a lot of work to prepare this property for Mr Chart by way of adaptations and this was something new which needed doing," she said.

However, the spokeswoman added the council was now working in tandem with an occupational therapist to get the work done and quotes from suppliers were being sought.