Woman stuck in hospital while waiting for home

A woman has spent the past five weeks stuck in hospital – some of the time on life support – and faces a longer wait until a suitable public housing property can be found for her.

Michael Fitzgerald’s wife Maria remains stuck in hospital until a suitable public housing property can be found. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

A HOBART woman on the state’s public housing wait list has spent the past five weeks stuck in hospital and faces a longer wait until she can be found a suitable house for her medical condition.

Maria Fitzgerald, of Lindisfarne, was last month put on life support at the Royal Hobart Hospital after collapsing at home.

She contracted septicaemia and is now on the road to recovery, with doctors clearing her to be discharged.

But her current rental property, which she shares with husband Michael, is said to be problematic for Mrs Fitzgerald’s health, with Ambulance Tasmania identifying “significant complications and difficulty extricating her from her home”.

The couple is among a long list of Tasmanians seeking public housing, with 3216 applicants on the waiting list as of June this year.

Mr Fitzgerald, who has stopped working to care for his wife, said they were “out of options” after their cries for help had gone unanswered.

“I’ve sent emails to Housing Minister Roger Jaensch, but I have heard nothing back,” he said.

Housing Minister Roger Jaensch. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

Labor housing spokesman Josh Willie said immediate relief was needed for the couple, who first registered for the state’s public housing waiting list three years ago after Mrs Fitzgerald suffered a stroke.

“The situation for this couple is clearly untenable,” Mr Willie said.

“Their current home is completely unsuitable for Mrs Fitzgerald’s needs and, because of her illness, she has suffered numerous falls and is unable to navigate stairs. The cost of Mrs Fitzgerald being kept in the hospital when the health system is also in crisis is astronomical.

“The most sensible solution would be for the Government to urgently provide the couple with public housing.”

Labor housing spokesman Josh Willie. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

A Department of Health and Human Services spokesman said Mrs Fitzgerald’s special needs made it difficult for the pair to be rehomed.

“This family has very specific requirements and preferences, including size and location, which significantly limits the number of suitable dwellings,” a spokesman said.

“To assist with finding a suitable home, they are encouraged to expand the number of suburbs that they would consider in their application, and to include areas managed by community housing providers.”

Mr Fitzgerald said he had applied for housing at 17 suburbs.

A letter addressed to Housing Connect earlier this month from a RHH senior social worker urged that the couple be considered a housing priority.