Woman 'bedbound' for 18 months arrested and evicted from NHS hospital

Jessie, 35, was admitted to Northampton General Hospital in April 2023 as she needed treatment for cellulitis but ended up spending 550 days there as she had no place to live

17:35, 09 Feb 2025Updated 21:09, 09 Feb 2025

[Jessie was arrested and evicted from Northampton General Hospital]

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Jessie was arrested and evicted from Northampton General Hospital

A woman who was forced to live in a hospital bed for 18 months has been arrested and evicted from the NHS hospital where she was staying.

Despite being medically fit to leave, Jessie spent 550 days in Northampton General Hospital because finding her a suitable place to go proved to be difficult. She was first admitted to the hospital on April 14, 2023 as she needed treatment for cellulitis, a bacterial infection that affects the skin and tissues beneath it.

The 35-year-old, who uses a wheelchair and needs help with all her personal care, was ready to be discharged from the hospital by the end of April, but was told she could not return to the nursing home where she had lived for nine years as it could no longer accommodate her needs.

[All her belongings were around Jessie's hospital bed]

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All her belongings were around Jessie's hospital bed

This issue meant the patient, who is unable to work and reliant on benefits, became increasingly isolated, stuck inside her hospital cubicle on the six-bedded ward. Jessie said her long hospital stay had a negative impact on her mental health as she only had curtains for privacy and all her possessions were stored in boxes around her bed.

In a video diary filmed from her hospital bed, the woman said she felt "very angry, upset, worthless" and like her mental health and life didn't matter. The BBC reported in August 2024, 16 months after she arrived, the hospital started legal action against Jessie to repossess the bed she was in.

The NHS trust eventually took High Court action against Jessie, to have her evicted from the hospital bed, which happened in October. She was arrested and taken to a new care home, where she says she feels anxious. Jessie's story is a clear example of the pressures on the care system and the knock-on effect they have on the NHS.

[The woman uses a wheelchair]

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The woman uses a wheelchair

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A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said in a statement shared with The Mirror: "This is a troubling case which shows how our broken NHS discharge system is failing vulnerable people. Our 10 Year Health Plan, backed by a 26 billion boost for the NHS and social care, will shift the focus of care from hospital to community and tackle delayed discharges by improving the links between the NHS and social care."

According to the BBC, police are investigating Jessie for a number of alleged incidents, including for sending offensive emails shortly before she was evicted from the hospital. Since moving to her new care home, Jessie says she has self-harmed and the police have been called on three occasion, once by her and twice by staff.

The Mirror has contacted Northampton General Hospital and North Northamptonshire Council for comment.

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