Sarah Regan, 76, has had to endure seven months miles from her family after having to leave the nursing home she loved because of fears about standards of care at Cornelia Lodge.

The dementia sufferer was moved 15 miles away to Hawthorne Court in Sarisbury Green back in October where she felt unhappy, lost weight and fell and broke her hip.

But now after a month recovering from a hip operation in hospital, Portsmouth Primary Care Trust has finally moved her to a home with nursing care near to her family in Portsmouth.

She has moved to St Ronan's Care Home in St Ronan's Road, Southsea – only a mile from her daughter's home in Somers Town.

Pauline Milne, 44, of Tipton House in Warwick Crescent, said: 'Mum's been so happy about not going back to Hawthorne Court and she's going somewhere with a garden.

'She's excited and wants to get up and walk, whereas before she stayed in bed.

'I'm at ease now. St Ronan's had some good reports and it's only 10 minutes down the road.

'Hopefully it will be a permanent home as it's the seventh place in four years and I don't want my mum to move again.'

Mrs Milne said regular articles in The News about her mum's plight combined with letters from MP Mike Hancock made a difference.

She said: 'The News and Mike Hancock have kept the pressure on the trust and helped us fight our corner.'

Staff at the NHS trust had been unable to find a home in Portsmouth and were looking for a place in Waterlooville for Mrs Regan before a bed in the city finally became available.

Trust commissioning manager Jo York said in a statement: 'Following Mrs Regan's fall, her needs have changed and have been re-assessed during her stay in Queen Alexandra Hospital. A bed became available at St Ronan's, and Mrs Regan is able to take up this place.'