SHE IS 73 years old, suffers from Alzheimer’s and should be looked after in the care home that has a place for her.

Yet Mary Lister remains in a securely-controlled hospital unit in Kirkcaldy, the innocent victim, says her daughter, of a squeeze on council budgets.

Fife Labour MSPs have strongly criticised the SNP-Lib Dem administration over what they claim is growing disarray in social care provision in Fife.

Mrs Lister has been in hospital since July after her carer arrived to find the quilt smouldering.

The grandmother, who smokes, was taken into hospital amid fears for her safety and was placed on mixed-sex Torbain Ward, where some of the men can be noisy and lewd because of their condition.

Daughter Janice Wheelen (52) said, “They are really ill, it’s not their fault, but it was really distressing for mum because she’s never seen that kind of behaviour.”

Ms Wheelen set out to find a suitable care home and settled on West Park at Leslie. Mrs Lister was assessed by staff who agreed to take her but, says her daughter, Fife Council has repeatedly postponed funding the placement due to financial constraints.

“I asked why my mother didn’t get funding... they said one person who got funding had been waiting for 143 days,” said Ms Wheelen, who insists her mother is entitled to have her fees paid for by the council.

“Mum has really deteriorated since she’s been on the ward. They say she’s happy but the other week I went in and she said, ‘Please do not leave me here, please get me out of here.’ ”

MSPs Claire Baker and Helen Eadie found there are 152 patients left in hospital beds despite being medically fit to leave, in many cases due to council delays in assessing or providing care packages.

Other constituents have told them similar stories of elderly relatives, clinically assessed as being able to return to their own homes or have residential care but prevented from doing so by severe delays in funding.

Ms Baker said, “It’s a travesty to leave elderly patients in hospital when more suitable care would be provided at home or in a care home.

“Many people waiting for their care packages are suffering a reduced quality of life and I know of instances where families fear the strain of the delays to care funding from Fife Council are making their loved one’s illness worse.

“I don’t blame hard working doctors or nurses or council officials, as I know everyone is working very hard within tight resources. But the SNP are in power in both Fife and nationally, so they are in the perfect position to urgently do something about this.”

Ms Eadie said, “I’m concerned that the SNP are failing to prioritise older people.

“Pensioners work hard all their lives and now when they need care the most . . . it’s the government’s responsibility to make sure they get it.

“Not only does it cost a lot more to keep a patient in hospital than to provide nursing care, being kept in hospital longer than need be can cause distress and suffering for older patients and their families.

“Social care in Fife is beginning to look like it’s completely in disarray to me.

“I call on the SNP to end these needless delays as soon as possible.”

Tim Brett, chairman of the social work and health committee, said, “I understand Mrs Lister’s position and I sympathise with her and her family.

“When she is fit to be discharged her application for funding will be considered again by the council. Meantime she’s safe and being well cared for in hospital.

“There have been no cuts to the social work budget but there is an overspend, projected at £1.9 million this financial year, due to increased demands for services. We have received no extra funding from the Scottish Government to meet these.

“Social work is working within the allocated budget set by the Labour administration in February and is unable to overspend as the council does not have the money to do so.”