Woman, 35, who spent 18 months living in hospital bed is arrested and evicted

Jessie, 35, who uses a wheelchair and needs help with all her personal care, was first admitted to Northampton General Hospital in April 2023

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 14 April 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.

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.

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Jessie was evicted from her NHS hospital bed through High Court action taken by the trust in October after a prolonged stay, signalling severe strains on the care system and its implications for the NHS. She was arrested and transferred to a new care home where she confesses feeling uneasy, reports the Mirror.

Highlighting the impact of care system pressures on healthcare services, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told 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.”

Jessie, who allegedly sent offensive emails prior to being ousted from the hospital, is under investigation by police, as reported by the BBC. Since relocating to the new care home, Jessie claims to have self-harmed, with the police having to intervene thrice – once summoned by her and twice by the care home staff.

The Mirror is reaching out to Northampton General Hospital and North Northamptonshire Council for their statements on the matter.