Case study - summary
Mrs Evangeline McConnell, Born 18 November 1922
In October 2002, Mrs McConnell was
admitted to the Royal Edward Hospital in Wigan as she had suffered
a severe stroke. She was then transferred to Leigh Infirmary for a
period of rehabilitation but the family were told that she could
not be discharged home as she needed 24 hour nursing care. She was
then transferred to Arncliffe Nursing Home in Halewood, Merseyside,
in April 2003. She was then transferred to St Bartholomews Nursing
Home in Huyton, Merseyside, where she remains. The family were told
that due to Mrs McConnell’s capital and income, she would have to
pay for her own nursing care.
Case history
- In April 2003, Mr McConnell on
behalf of his mother, asked the Hospital to undertake a full
continuing healthcare assessment. Following an appeal in March
2004, Ashton Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust concluded that Mrs
McConnell was not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare. Due to
the complexity of the system and the upset it caused to the family,
they did not challenge the decision any further.
- A number of nursing assessments
were undertaken by Knowsley Primary Care Trust but it was not until
January 2008, that they concluded she was eligible for NHS
Continuing Healthcare.
- In May 2008, Mr McConnell
instructed Hugh James solicitors to challenge the decision that his
mother was not eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare from April
2003 to January 2008.
- There was a dispute between
Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust, Knowsley Primary Care
Trust and Liverpool Primary Care Trust over who was responsible for
undertaking the review.
- Liverpool Primary Care Trust
undertook the retrospective assessment and concluded that Mrs
McConnell was eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare from April
2003. This decision was eventually accepted by Ashton Leigh and
Wigan Primary Care Trust and they reimbursed Mrs McConnell for the
wrongly paid care fees and interest.