A STROKE survivor in desperate need of assisted living accommodation says nobody is listening to his pleas for help.

Former Great Western Railway worker Craig Stanley, 42, who lives in Cirencester, suffered a stroke in February 2022 while driving home from work which has left him with mobility issues.

He spent three weeks in an induced coma at the John Radcliffe Hospital before being transferred to the GWH in Swindon.

A stay at Frenchay Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre followed before he was finally discharged in November and moved back into his maisonette, which his family say is not suitable for someone in his condition.

And while his family are full of praise for the hospital care, they are angry that pleas for help with a move into assisted living are being ignored.

The maisonette has problems including poor heating, trip hazards and is not adapted for a disabled person, they say.

His father Peter who also lives in Cirencester, said: “He gets carers three times a day but it’s four walls he’s looking at."

His family are fighting to get him a place at the Mulberry Court independent living centre in Cirencester.

"It would give him a better quality of life, he would have people around him and he would have an electric wheelchair which he doesn’t have at the moment,” said Peter.

The centre is normally only for the over 55s but his family were told they would make an exception for Craig and he was shown a room.

“We did the application and Craig actually signed it in front of them,” said Peter.

“Then, I just found I was getting a stonewall put up every time I went in to see what was happening.

“There was always something and, eventually, months later, I was told they destroyed his application because he was too young and there was a family tie with a member of the care home."

Craig feels let down and angry.

He said: “Nobody is listening, it’s not fair."

His Cotswold district ward councillor Claire Bloomer (Lib Dem) raised the issue at a recent meeting at Shire Hall.

She says Craig is being unjustly neglected and is calling on Gloucestershire County Council to prioritise his case.

“It is our moral obligation to ensure that the most vulnerable members of our community receive the care and assistance they require,” she said.

“Craig and his family’s circumstances represent a profound failure in our support systems, highlighting the gaps in services for individuals with disabilities.

"Despite his evident need for assistance, Craig has been left to navigate an uphill battle without the necessary resources, hindering his ability to live a fulfilling and dignified life.”

A spokesperson for Housing 21, which runs Mulberry Court, said: “Mulberry Court is an extra care scheme for residents who require support and meet all the eligibility criteria.

“Out of respect and privacy for those involved, we do not comment on individual applications, but are happy to discuss any questions with applicants directly.”

A GCC spokesperson said: “We cannot comment on specific cases but we have agreed to review this case and are organising for officers to meet with Craig.

“In general, we carry out adult social care assessments, make referrals and signpost options available through other organisations to help.

“Services available include The Churn Project, which supports vulnerable people in the Cirencester area, Stroke Club, the Gloucestershire brain injury team and occupational therapy.

“Adult social care is committed to working with individuals, their carers and professionals to understand the needs of people with physical disabilities, and develop services to help them.”