After 13-hour NHS shifts, Jason Lewis returns to an overcrowded two-bedroom flat where he and his partner have slept on the sofa for three years to care for his autistic daughter and father with dementiaThis is the ‘bed’ Jason Lewis has to look forward to after working a 13 hour NHS shift(Image: Jason Lewis)

When Jason Lewis finally finishes his 13-hour NHS nursing shifts, his work isn’t done. He goes home to care for his teenage daughter who has autism and a frail 88-year-old dad for another few hours.

After waking up at 5:30am for work, what he really needs is an early night and a good sleep. But that’s hard to come by in Jason’s flat.

He can’t go to sleep until 1am, when his partner Hazel gets home from work, cleaning a dental practice. And when the pair settle down, they don’t go to bed.

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That’s because, for the last three years, they’ve slept on the settee.

There are no other beds free for them in their flat, because Jason’s dad, David, is suffering with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

“He had a flat in Wales and the social worker did an inspection,” Jason explained. “He was heating frozen food in the microwave for two minutes and eating it.”

The results meant Jason ‘brought him back’ from Rhymney, Caerphilly, to Irlam so he could provide direct care to David. That meant sacrificing his bed.

Jason has tried to keep the family together by applying for a Salford council house, as it’s what he can afford. He’s after a three-bed home in the borough so he can get to work at Salford Royal Hospital without difficulty, his partner can continue cleaning a dentists in Irlam, and he won’t have to move Katie from Oakwood Academy in Eccles.

“We are renting privately now,” the 55-year-old dad added. “I need a council house because the rent with the council is better. My rent now is affordable, but only because it’s a friend at work. He has given me a two-bedroom house at the same price of a one bedroom council flat.

(Image: Jason Lewis)

“The place at the time was adequate for us but because my dad has moved in, it’s overcrowded so it’s now not adequate.

“I have been bidding every single week for a three-bedroom house since I asked them to move.”

But despite letters from his father’s carers and daughter’s school arguing Jason’s living arrangements are ‘overcrowded’, and Jason’s writing directly to city mayor Paul Dennett in May 2023, Salford council’s system still tells Jason he’s 125th in the queue.

“I told the council this house was overcrowded years ago,” the Welshman went on.

“They said my dad can get a one bedroom flat. I said that’s not the point, because he cannot look after himself, so they said they can get carers in.”

At the moment, Hazel works partial nights so she can provide care while Jason is at work, so he believes moving the family-of-four to a larger home means David will get better care, and it would save the taxpayers thousands.

Jason said: “We are his carers. The fact is [if dad got his own flat he] could be anywhere in Salford… so I could drive to him, but if I’m in work I cannot get to him.”

“So with an extra bedroom we are not burdening the council and costing them thousands of pounds.”

Jason first moved to Salford in 2000 and makes a living working for the NHS at Salford Royal, pictured(Image: Copyright Unknown)

The years long wait has left Jason frustrated, especially given his years of service caring for people on the NHS.

“I could be looking after any one of your family and you say I am not fit to have a property,” he sighed.

Salford council says demand for social homes is ‘extremely high’ in the borough, suggesting Jason’s three-and-a-half year wait will go on.

A spokesperson said: “We cannot comment on individual cases, but we can confirm that Salford has a clear policy for allocating socially rented homes.

“The aim is to ensure that those in greatest housing need on the register are given access to homes first. It’s essential that residents provide all relevant details in their applications so we can assess their circumstances accurately.

“Social housing is in extremely high demand in Salford, as it is across the country. That’s why we remain committed to building high-quality homes, including those available for truly affordable social rent. We also offer a range of support packages for residents who are struggling.”