‘I lived in hospital for 50 years but wasn’t ill’

Fraser’s family have set up a purpose-built room for him and want him to come home but say he has deteriorated so much in hospital that he has become afraid to leave his room.

In common with many families, they have struggled to find a suitable care package and agree a transition from hospital.

A spokesperson for North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership said it would continue to work with Fraser and his family towards a discharge from hospital.

“There are ongoing challenges locally and across Scotland in the capacity, availability and variety of community-based care options for individuals with complex support needs,” they said.

A spokeswoman for Glasgow’s Health and Social Care Partnership said it was a momentous step for Charles to move into a home of his own.

“We continue to work hard to support other individuals, like Charles, with complex support needs, to move on from hospital into the right community-based accommodation,” she said.

Separate Freedom of Information requests made by BBC Scotland to all of Scotland’s health boards found that more than 120 people with learning disabilities had been in hospital for more than a year.

This includes 28 who have been in hospital for more than 10 years and four who have spend more than 20 years in hospital.