'I MOVED HOUSE SO MY WIFE COULD LEAVE HOSPITAL..BUT HSE GAFFE HAS RUINED OUR CHRISTMAS DAY TOGETHER' EXCLUSIVE Husband's loving care plan wrecked.

Byline: BY NAOMI McELROY

A HEARTBROKEN husband moved house just so his beloved wife could come home from hospital for Christmas - now bungling HSE bosses say he can't spend the special day at home with her.

Matthew Daly, 54, moved from Bantry in Co Cork, to Tully, Co Monaghan, to spend Christmas Day with his wife.

Eileen, 48, who had breast cancer four years ago, suffers from bipolar disorder and has spent the past 12 months in Bantry hospital, Co Cork.

At Monaghan hospital, patients with psychiatric problems can spend time at home so the couple decided to move there - only to be told at the last moment that their special Christmas together had been cancelled.

Matthew said: "We made the decision to move to Monaghan about three months ago.

"Before I moved I spoke to the consultant in Bantry.

He told me he'd been on to the consultant here and he'd agreed to the transfer.

"Because Eileen has been in hospital so long it'll be difficult for her to cope if she was suddenly released, so her consultant in Bantry decided the best thing would be to extend her detention - she was committed to hospital - and move her up here under those conditions.

"That way she could come home for Christmas, but if anything went wrong they could bring her back in.

"They have a home-base team here who call to the house. It was one of the reasons we decided to move here.

"Her tribunal was on the 18th and her consultant agreed she'd move up here today and her status would remain the same until she could cope on the outside.

"She was in great form the last couple of weeks. She told me she was looking forward to coming home.

"Her consultant told me on Friday it was all set. Then I got a second phone call on Friday from the hospital saying the consultant in Monaghan was off on holidays - and they need clearance from him.

"I rang her consultant and he said he'd try to do something but can't guarantee she'll be home."

Now caring Matthew, who's been married to Eileen for 12 years, fears this could set her back.

He added: "Over the last five weeks she's been very good but on Friday she was so upset she didn't sleep, which is dangerous for someone with her condition."

If Eileen is not released in time Matthew vowed to travel back to Cork to spend Christmas Day with her in hospital.

HSE spokesman Rosaleen Harlin said: "We can't comment on individual patients and when a patient is being transferred between hospitals that's a matter between the consultants involved."

The psychiatric hospital in Monaghan has a home-base team - that is one reason we decided to move here

CAPTION(S):

HOME ALONE Matthew Daly at his Monaghan house yesterday