A HEARTBROKEN pensioner is facing a 250 mile round trip to visit her husband of 63 years because the specialist dementia care he needs is not available in Cumbria.

Madge Bazley, 82, has spoken of her distress at being separated from love of her life Eric next month when is moved from Dane Garth, at Furness General Hospital, to Dewsbury, in Yorkshire.

Health bosses confirmed this week that former Vickers shipyard worker Mr Bazley, 86, will be relocated to a unit that specialises in people with advanced dementia because there is no equivalent facility in this area.

His devoted wife, Walney resident Mrs Bazley, described the situation was 'so wrong'.

"I've never cried about anything so much in my life," she said.

"I just want him to stay in Barrow where I can see him.

"The staff at Dane Garth are amazing, the way they care for him is brilliant.

"I can't fault them. It's not right that he has to go so far away to get the care he needs."

Mrs Bazley visits her husband on the Dane Garth unit, run by the Cumbria Partnership NHS Trust, twice a week from her home at West Shore Park with the couple's son; Paul.

Mr Bazley was admitted as an inpatient on the couple's 63rd wedding anniversary in April this year after his dementia worsened and he displayed some violent behaviour - a common symptom of the condition.

But she was then told he would have to move to Middlesborough to receive the more intensive care he desperately needs - before it was confirmed he would instead be given a place at The Priory, in Dewsbury.

Following an offer of fortnightly transport from mental health bosses, Mrs Bazley is now set to make the two and a half hour each way journey to keep in touch with her beloved Eric after declaring - 'the thought of never seeing him again would kill me'.

The situation is a far cry from the retirement the pair had hoped for when they fell in love as teenagers at a dance in Dalton before marrying and going on to spend every moment possible together through their adult lives.

"We met when I was 14 and we've never been apart," Mrs Bazley told the Evening Mail.

"He was always so mild mannered, so lovely. He was always helping people out.

"I just can't believe this is happening. It's terrible.

"People shouldn't have to go through this. If they've got this specialist care in other places, why can't we have it here?"

Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock said specialist beds for people with dementia were needed in the area to stop the forced separation of couples like Mr and Mrs Bazley.

He said: "Cases like this highlight the dismal plight of families who see relatives placed miles away due to a lack of facilities in south Cumbria.

"We urgently need the government to get a grip - promised extra beds in this area have been delayed for too long."