Barrow family forced to pay £20k savings after NHS-funded care pulled

Jim Finch has been in a wheelchair for the past 20 years after he was diagnosed with MS 30 years ago.

The Barrow dad-of-two's health took a turn for the worse last year when he developed a pressure sore while on holiday which led to a two-month hospitalisation to help treat the wound.

The painful wound was so deep you could see Mr Finch’s bone, said his family, resulting in debilitating pain for the grandad-of-four.

The 63-year-old, who formerly played rugby for Walney Central and coached the mini-rugby team, has been bed-bound for the last three months due to the pressure sore and has been undergoing daily treatment from at-home carers.

After around 12 weeks the family was informed by the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Care Board (ICB) that the treatment could no longer be funded.

The family was told Mr Finch no longer qualified for NHS-funded care last August despite letters from medical professionals insisting that the at-home treatment is vital.

The family appealed the decision and Mr Finch was assessed via Zoom but, again, care bosses decided he did not qualify for NHS-funded care.

They immediately appealed against the decision again but were forced to fund the care themselves at a cost of £900 per week.

Jim celebrating his birthday in January (Image: Submitted)

In November a home assessment was carried out on the back of the appeal and the original decision was overturned.

All documentation from the assessment was forwarded to the NHS funding department for re-imbursement of all monies paid by the Finch family, however, despite a number calls about repayment, the family say no progress has been made.

And four months later Mr Finch’s wife Tracy was told it had been ‘too long’ since the November assessment and the decision no longer stands.

“We were so relieved when they said the care would be reinstated,” said Mrs Tracy.

“We didn’t have anything in writing. We kept calling and were told it was ongoing. Then we were told the November assessment can’t be taken into consideration because it had been too long.

“Even though we have been chasing it up with them to follow up on the assessment. We couldn’t believe it.

“We were reassured the payments would be reimbursed but we’re having to pay for everything.

“Jim is improving but only because we’re paying for the carers that come in every day.”

To date, the family has spent £20,000 on carers who come daily into the home and are desperately campaigning for the NHS-paid treatment to resume, and their life savings reinstated.

Jim Finch and his wife Tracy (Image: Submitted)

“I work at Asda and get carers allowance, but I can’t up my hours at work because I would lose my carers allowance,” said Tracy.

“It’s like a never-ending cycle. We’re just praying it will be paid back one day. This is our life savings; we haven’t got a lot of money.”

Mrs Finch described the action from the care board as ‘dreadful’.

“All of our friends and family just can’t believe this is happening,” she said.

“We’re all appalled. How can a group of professionals all agree that Jim meets the criteria for home carers but then someone else, who has never assessed him, say he doesn’t?

“It’s had a dreadful effect on all of us. Jim has lost his confidence – it’s taken a huge toll on him.

“We just want this resolved and to go on with our lives.”

Mrs Finch has also been in contact with Barrow MP Simon Fell who described the care board’s prolonged procedures as ‘concerning’.

Mr Fell said: “My team and I have been working with the family to help appeal the decision made by NHS Continuing Health Care (CHC) since November last year. It is concerning that the decision to reinstate the support has taken so long and we are doing all we can to speed this up.

Jim Finch when he was allowed out of bed for the first time (Image: Newsquest)

“The assessments undertaken by CHC of course need to take place, but no family should be left struggling to cope with these costs, for this long, without a formal decision. My office will continue to support the family in any way we can.”

Jane Brennan, nursing director of adult health and care for NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB), said: “While we are unable to comment on specific cases, we will make contact with Mr Finch’s family and work with them to reach a satisfactory outcome.”