Grandmother’s heartache at moving husband out of All Hallows

St Elizabeth Hospice at All Hallows' Hospital, Ditchingham.

Caroline Spicer thought she had found a 'forever home' for her husband John Spicer nine years ago, but the 75-year-old will move him from the All Hallows Hospital, in Ditchingham, near Bungay on Tuesday (April 23).

'We are going to Walcot Hall Nursing home in Diss - It is a fair distance.

'Now it takes me 10 minutes to see him,' she said

Following his admission to the hospital, Mrs Spicer packed up her life in Southwold and moved to Loddon to be closer to her husband of five decades.

'I sold my house so I could be near to him,' she said.

Mr Spicer was on a holiday with his wife in Sicily, Italy when he slipped and fell on concrete steps.

The 77-year-old, who also has Parkinson's disease, hit his head so hard on the fall he now has a serious brain injury.

It is unknown whether a brain hemorrhage caused the fall, or if the impact from the fall lead to the stroke.

'He doesn't have any mental capacity, but he will notice it, he has been in the same care for nine years,' Mrs Spicer said.

The grandmother spends up to five hours by her husband's side at hospital each day and has become friendly with the staff, other residents as well as their families.

She suspects the hospital in Ditchingham will close altogether.

'I feel angry, disappointed and let down,' she said.

Cath Byford, deputy chief officer and director of commissioning at NHS Great Yarmouth and Waveney CCG, speaking on behalf of all health and care commissioners, said: 'We recognise this is a worrying time for the people and families affected by the transfer of care from All Hallows to a new provider.

'Our priority has always been, and will continue to be, to ensure that there is safe ongoing care to all of those currently receiving care and support, including vulnerable residents with complex needs.