‘My dignity has been taken away’: Woman left living in hospital waiting to be housed by council

A woman has been living in a hospital for four weeks after her council failed to house her before her discharge date.

Lorna Russel, 56, was admitted into Bethlem Royal Hospital in Monks Orchard Road, Beckenham, in April after she had a mental breakdown.

She was due to be discharged four weeks ago but the hospital will not discharge her until Lewisham council offers her accommodation.

A nurse on Ms Russel’s ward said the hospital had been in touch with the local authority regarding her housing needs but had not had a response in four weeks.

Ms Russel said: “Day to day I am living with more and more anxiety.

“My dignity has been taken away and I am stuck here taking up a bed space someone might need.”

The nursery worker and volunteer said she is now worried she will lose her job.

She said: “I should have been discharged but the council won’t house me. I just want to get on with my life and go back to work.

“If I lose this job it will be so hard to get a new one because no one will hire me if they know I had a breakdown.”

Ms Russel has been on Lewisham council’s housing list since 2018, after the ceiling of her privately rented property collapsed. 

Since then, she had been staying with friends until she was admitted into hospital earlier this year.

Ms Russel said she cannot afford private rental on her current wages so has to rely on the council to house her.

She said: “I know what a mess the council is in because my son was housed by Lewisham in assisted accommodation all the way in Eastbourne in 2018.

“I had to get the train to help him with cooking and cleaning but I won’t be able to travel for a while after my breakdown so I can’t see him.”

Ms Russel said the council has treated her “very badly”.

She said: “Since I came to the UK in 2000 I have always worked. I used to work multiple jobs just to keep a roof over me and my family’s head.

“I’ve always rented privately but now I have no other choice.”

A spokesman from Lewisham council said: “Our records show that Ms Russel has already been allocated temporary accommodation and this is available to her. We are making contact with her and the hospital to provide support as required and understand whether the accommodation remains suitable for her needs.”

Pictured top: Lorna Russel in Bethlem Royal Hospital (Picture: Lorna Russel)