Cornwall couple reunited after enforced separation

Sheila Glass, 96, and her 94 year old husband Bill are now living in sheltered housing

A couple from Torpoint are celebrating being back together after being forced apart for more than four months, following a prolonged hospital stay.

Bill and Sheila Glass - who are both in their 90s - had to separate when a shortage of housing options meant Mrs Glass could not leave hospital despite being declared medically fit.

The 96-year-old broke her neck in a fall in January, but had been in Liskeard Hospital without medical cause for 120 days.

Cornwall Council said it was glad this situation had been resolved, but added that county "continues to experience extreme and unprecedented pressures on housing".

'Jumping through hoops'

"All the best my darling, look after your plants!" - this was one of the many familiar goodbyes Sheila Glass received from staff when she finally left Liskeard Hospital earlier this month on 10 June.

She and her 94-year-old husband are now living in sheltered housing provided by Cornwall Council after their own home had been ruled unsafe following Mrs Glass's fall.

Son-in-law Mike Adams, who cared for Mr Glass while his wife was in hospital, said it had been a long and frustrating journey.

He said: "It's been like jumping through hoops on a daily basis. And, just as a door would open, another door would close."

The couple have been married for 74 years

The couple have been married for 74 years and, other than stints during Mr Glass's time in the Royal Navy, had rarely been apart.

Their situation highlighted a problem seen across the country, but particularly in south-west England, which has an older than average population.

A shortage of either social care, or, in this case, appropriate housing, has left many elderly people stuck.

Recent figures showed about half of patients classed as fit to leave remained in Devon and Cornwall's hospitals at the end of a day.

Mr Adams said: "I really appreciate that Sheila and Bill are lucky now, they've got a place. But, sadly, there's still a lot of people in hospitals, stuck there, who can't come out for one reason or another.

"And of course it's got the knock-on effect... when people arrive at A&E, they can't put them into beds because of this bed-blocking situation. It's an awful situation.

"We're just glad now to be at the end of the journey to see them here together. It's great".

The couple say they are pleased to be living together again after four months apart

Cornwall Council told the BBC it sympathised with those who found themselves in housing need but added it faced huge demand.

It said: "There are currently 19,700 households on our social housing register.

"We will prioritise those most in need. However, there is high demand, and we can only provide housing when it becomes available.

"On average, around 2,300 social housing properties become available each year across Cornwall.

"As a council, we continue to do all we can to support residents to find the homes they need, including building and buying more homes throughout Cornwall."

For Bill and Sheila Glass, after more than four months apart, they are delighted to be living together again.

Mrs Glass said: "It was absolute relief to be out of hospital.

"To know everyone was standing up for me, and doing all they can to get me home, was wonderful".

She had been Mr Glass's carer before her fall. He lived with his daughter and son-in-law while his wife was in hospital.

Bill Glass said: "We've been together for all these years, and it doesn't seem right to be apart.

"I love her, and I always have.... she's always been my sweetheart, and that's it, I can't say much more, except it's just grand to have her with us again."