Disabled patient stuck 135 miles from Newport home
A severely disabled woman from Newport has been stuck for 11 weeks in a hospital 135 miles from home because the care she needs is not available in Shropshire, it has been claimed.
Marie Hardy, 45, was diagnosed with chronic regional pain syndrome in 2002. The condition means any contact can cause her pain. She went to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for a specialist operation on November 20.
But four days later – just before she was due home – Miss Hardy fell out of bed and suffered a seizure, leaving her unable to use her right arm.
She was already unable to use her left arm.
Tracey Hammett, Miss Hardy's partner of 17 years, believes she needs intensive rehab. But Miss Hardy, who used to work for the prison service, has been left in limbo because there are no rehab beds available.
Desperate Miss Hammett, 41, said: "Marie is in limbo but this is a human with feelings and emotions and people don't seem to realise. They have said they can try to find her a nursing home bed in Newport – but she's 45."
Christine Morris, for Telford and Wrekin Clinical Commissioning Group, refused to comment on individual cases but said it works with the patients and their families to identify appropriate support.
Miss Hardy has been told there is a chance of a rehab bed at West Park Hospital in Wolverhampton, but she so far has no date for moving from Cardiff.
