Woman living in hospital bed for 18 months arrested and evicted

A woman who spent 550 days in hospital was arrested and evicted after the NHS trust took High Court action against her.

Jessie, 35, stayed at Northampton General Hospital for 18 months, despite being medically fit to leave for nearly all of that time.

When she was discharged at the end of April 2023 following treatment for cellulitis, there was nowhere for her to go.

This was because her nursing home which she had previously lived in for nine years could no longer accommodate her needs.

Following her eviction, Jessie has now been housed in another care home but says she feels anxious because the town it is in holds bad memories.

She told the BBC: ‘I feel very angry, upset, worthless, and like my mental health and my life doesn’t matter.’

Jessie would record a video diary of her time in the hospital and said her dolls would help her to keep calm.

She also needs help with her personal care, uses a wheelchair and was diagnosed with emotionally unstable personality disorder.

The hospital said it ‘is not the best environment for patients who are not in need of acute medical care’.

North Northamptonshire Council, the council responsible for her care, said it could not comment on Jessie due to an ongoing police investigation into her behaviour.

Jessie attended her final court hearing virtually without an advocate but felt overwhelmed within minutes and could not talk.

Her mum also struggled to speak and Jessie felt like she could not express to the court her care preferences.

Only one suitable place was found for Jessie out of 120 possible care home places following her stay in hospital.

But this move, where she is supported by two care staff initially present 24 hours a day, has left her feeling suicidal because of ‘bad things’ that happened in the town.

The judge said she could challenge the council’s assessment but she could not remain in hospital and it was ruled she must leave.

The Department for Health and Social Care acknowledged the problem cases like Jessie’s pose to a broke social care system.

A spokesperson told the BBC: ‘This is a troubling case which shows how our broken NHS discharge system is failing vulnerable people.’

Nearly 13,000 out of the more than 100,000 hospital beds in England were occupied by people who didn’t have a medical reason to be there, as of the start of this year.

Since being placed in the accommodation, Jessie says she has self harmed on three separate occasions and is looking for an advocate.

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