A FORMER councillor who suffers from dementia has seen his place at a North Yorkshire care home withdrawn just 24 hours before he was set to move in.

Fred Willis, 69, an ex-member of Harrogate Borough Council, was due to take a place at Thistle Hill Care Centre in Knaresborough last Friday, only for NHS North Yorkshire and York to withdraw the home from a previously-agreed list of homes where it funds places.

The primary care trust has also been accused of contacting the hospital where he is currently being cared for to ask staff to break the news to Mr Willis’ family, rather than telling them directly.

Mr Willis’ daughter Helen Nash said: “We have wasted time looking at homes they have crossed off the list. My mum was looking after my dad for a long time and really struggled towards the end. There will be lots of families stuck dealing with that now because there are no spaces available.”

Sue Metcalfe, NHS North Yorkshire and York’s deputy chief executive, said: “We apologise for the confusion we have caused Mr Willis’s family at what must be a very difficult time. We will continue to work with the family to find an appropriate care home as quickly as possible.”