Paralysed artist pays £180 a week for care on NHS hospital ward

Posted: March 31, 2014

Posted in: Accidents and Sickness Abroad Medical Negligence Spine & Back Injuries 

A man who is paralysed from the neck down has to pay £180 a week to receive care on an NHS hospital ward after his living allowance benefit was cut. Edward Rainey (52) has suffered with paralysis since 1984 when he was involved in a swimming accident on holiday. Since the accident, Mr Rainey was able to live in his house in Pollock, Glasgow, but social workers have advised him to go into a care home, or lose his benefits.

Edward Rainey is paralysed from the neck down and was “strongly advised” by staff at Glasgow’s Southern General to hire a private carer to supplement the care that would be available to him on the ward. Mr Rainey, however, is being forced to pay for this himself as his independent living allowance benefit was stopped after being admitted to hospital in January. 

“I’m not too ill”

Mr Rainey said: “They are violating my human rights”. He continued: “It’s deplorable. I just want to go back home. I’m not too ill. I think I could be out of hospital in three to four weeks.”

Edward is currently being treated in the hospital for pneumonia and a collapsed lung, complications that have come as a result of his spinal injuries. His carer assists with his eating, getting him washed, changing his dressings, and checking the ventilator and nebulizer machines that help him breathe.

Health secretary Alex Neil said that he aims to have as many long-term patients back to their homes as and where possible.

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