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Daily NewsA disabled man has spent almost 10 months in a busy common hospital as a result of no appropriate house has been discovered for him locally.
Matthew Sharp, who has a variety of advanced circumstances, says he has been left in limbo whereas his native NHS and council attempt to determine who’s accountable for his care.
Council bosses in England say disputes between the NHS, native authorities and households over who ought to pay for probably the most advanced care instances are rising.
Matthew’s native well being and care system says it really works with people, households and others “to understand the type of care an individual needs”.
Following a number of Daily News stories over the previous yr, greater than 250 folks have contacted us elevating issues about NHS-funded social care – together with Matthew and his household.
The 36-year-old has been in Epsom General Hospital in Surrey for greater than 290 days – for many of that point he has been medically match to depart.
“I’m just stuck in a prison basically,” Matthew says. “Life is very difficult, life is sad, and I’ve got a lot of anger.”
His household says that the scenario has prompted his well being to deteriorate.
Matthew has Tourette’s syndrome. It causes tics or involuntary spasms, a few of which have been so violent they’ve broken his backbone – the rationale he’s now in a wheelchair.
Another tic means he involuntarily calls out and repeats phrases – typically the phrases might be offensive. He says his tics have turn into “more chaotic” due to the stress he’s below.
He additionally has a studying incapacity and a variety of extra bodily and psychological well being circumstances, together with ADHD and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
On 6 October final yr, Matthew was taken to hospital with a urinary tract an infection.
He had been in supported housing, however that placement had damaged down, so he was not in a position to return.
Since then, Matthew has been dwelling in a aspect room within the hospital. He finds the fixed noise and being on a ward with extraordinarily sick folks very anxious.
We are assembly on the University for the Creative Arts close to the hospital. Matthew is a proficient artist and his mother and father have introduced one in every of his work with them.
He manoeuvres his wheelchair so he can get a greater have a look at the image which exhibits three boats jumbled on a vivid yellow strip of seashore.
The sea and sky are vibrant blue, however Matthew factors to the gray railings and pavement that run throughout the underside of the image.
“That represents my life,” Matthew says. “The barrier preventing me doing the things I want to do.”
His mother and father, who’ve their very own well being points, describe the scenario as extraordinarily distressing.
“Matthew is now in that position whereby he’s not really seen as an individual,” says his mom, Christine. “He has no meaningful life.”
Matthew’s assist was being funded by NHS Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care Board (ICB) below a scheme known as Continuing Healthcare (CHC). Only folks with the very best wants are eligible for this free NHS social care.
After almost two months in hospital, he obtained a letter from the ICB saying it had tried 145 totally different houses offering care and assist. They recognized three which may doubtlessly take him.
The ICB now says the household declined a lot of appropriate choices earlier than reaching this extra formal stage.
Matthew’s mother and father strongly dispute this. They additionally say one of many three houses listed was perfect however in the long run no place was supplied.
When the ICB wrote to Matthew once more on 4 December 2023, he was advised there was only one house the place he may have the ability to dwell.
The household says the house was completely unsuitable for somebody as weak as Matthew, with drug-dealing occurring brazenly on the road outdoors.
The ICB letter stated it believed the position met “his assessed needs”, and will he refuse it then “this means that you decline CHC funding and make your own private arrangements”.
CHC funding was withdrawn on 21 December. The ICB says it made a referral to Surrey County Council for it to supply his care.
The council says it was made conscious of Matthew’s case in December however didn’t turn into concerned till May.
Matthew’s disabilities – and being on advantages – imply that if his care just isn’t funded by the NHS, then it needs to be supplied by his native authority.
But within the following months, neither appears to have taken on the job of discovering him someplace to maneuver to.
It is a posh case, however we’ve got not been given a transparent reply as to why this occurred.
The consequence for Matthew is he’s caught in hospital.
The estimated value of an ordinary NHS hospital mattress in 2020/21 was almost £2,500 per week.
Matthew’s mom, Christine, describes the present scenario as “not fair on anyone”.
“The amount it must be costing to keep Matthew in a hospital bed should be being spent on somewhere that he is able to live his own life and enjoy,” she says.
In May this yr, eight months after Matthew arrived on the hospital, the ICB says well being workers requested a evaluation to see if he was nonetheless eligible for NHS-funded Continuing Healthcare.
Official steering says the brink for this screening course of “has been set deliberately low, in order to ensure that all those who require a full assessment for eligibility” have that chance.
It additionally says folks needs to be given cheap discover when that is to occur. Experts say that might often imply a couple of days.
Matthew’s household says he was given simply 10 minutes’ discover that an evaluation or “checklist” could be carried out.
He known as his mother and father, who dwell an hour away. They couldn’t get there in time to assist him. He says he requested for the guidelines to be delayed however was advised it might go forward with out him.
We in contrast the guidelines in opposition to earlier multi-disciplinary assessments of Matthew’s well being and care wants. There are important variations.
In the guidelines, his Tourette’s syndrome is talked about in passing, and there seems to be little acknowledgement of the severity or affect of his tics.
There can be no point out of his ADHD, OCD, or the deep mind stimulator which is used to assist management his tics, and which he requires assist with.
The guidelines was accomplished utilizing hospital notes. The ICB says it was undertaken in keeping with the nationwide framework, with well being professionals concerned in Matthew’s care.
But the household says the member of workers concerned was new and didn’t know him.
“It just made me upset. So basically, they’re not listening,” says Matthew.
His household says his well being has deteriorated since he was final assessed, however the conclusion of the guidelines was that he was now not eligible for CHC.
Claire Stone, NHS Surrey Heartland’s chief nursing officer says whereas it can’t touch upon particular person instances, it really works intently with these concerned to “provide support and advice and ensure a smooth transition to any new arrangements”. She additionally says “anyone who chooses to decline CHC care” can reapply at any time.
Surrey County Council says it started plans for Matthew to be discharged to a everlasting house in June, including that “at the heart of this complex case is an individual and it’s important that Matthew’s needs are put before anything else”.
Councils present means-tested assist for folks at house, in care houses or supported dwelling, if they’re discovered to have excessive care wants quite than well being wants.
A latest survey by the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services (Adass), representing the individuals who run council care, says care workers are more and more being anticipated to tackle duties as soon as accomplished by well being professionals.
Out of 153 English councils with social care tasks, 143 replied. Nearly three-quarters (74%) reported an increase in native disputes over whether or not councils or the NHS ought to fund an individual’s care.
And with their very own budgets below stress, almost all administrators say they’ve little confidence they are going to have the ability to meet their authorized duties to assist folks within the yr forward.
Tom Brown, who speaks for Adass, says the present scenario just isn’t sustainable: “I think local authorities are being made the provider of last resort for people with some of the most complex needs.”
He says funding in group companies is required to permit well being and social care “to make a profound difference in people’s lives”.
Matthew’s mother and father describe the present well being and care system for folks like him as damaged.
“The impact it has is to destroy lives,” says his father, Roger. “It is destroying Matthew’s life, and it is severely impacting on ours.”
However, Matthew stays optimistic. He needs to turn into a widely known Tourette’s artist – doing summary artwork and installations, and galvanizing others.
“I’m actually looking forward to the future,” he says. “But I need to be out of hospital, to actually gain my future.”
The Department for Health and Social Care says it’s “determined to tackle head-on the significant challenges social care faces” and it’ll undertake a “deep-rooted programme of reform”.
