Patient 'stuck' in hospital after leg amputation

A man who had his leg amputated following a sepsis infection has said it was "soul-destroying" that he remained in hospital because no suitable housing could be found.

David Taylor, from Knottingley in West Yorkshire, has been ready for discharge since the middle of January but cannot return home because his wheelchair will not fit into his house.

The 56-year-old said he had applied for "at least" 12 new properties through the local housing association but so far had not been successful.

Vico Homes, which was formerly known as Wakefield District Housing, said it was supporting his family to find a home "as quickly as possible".

Mr Taylor was only given a 50% chance of survival when he was rushed to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield last November.

A chest infection had developed into a life-threatening sepsis, which required five emergency operations, including the amputation of his left leg below the knee.

A month later, he was moved to Pontefract Hospital to continue his recovery, where he has been ever since.

Mr Taylor said an inspection of his property had revealed the doors and hallway were too narrow for his wheelchair.

Recording his thoughts on a phone from his hospital bed, Mr Taylor said the delay was having an effect on his mental health.

"I'm just getting totally numb," he said. "I've been crying on a night and I'm just missing my family that much."

Mr Taylor said he had made bids on new properties in eight different areas of Wakefield through the housing association with no success.

In January, he was offered a place in respite accommodation but turned it down because he wants to live independently.

Mr Taylor's wife, Kerry, described the situation as "stupid" and a "complete waste of NHS money".

"He's sat in a room on his own 24/7, costing God knows what, and they can't help us get a flat or a bungalow," she said.

Figures from NHS England showed that in January 2025 more than 3,500 patients were discharged from Mid Yorkshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which oversees Pontefract Hospital.

Of these, 83.5% were discharged on the day they should have been, but 16.5% were not, meaning more than 3,300 bed days were lost.

The reasons for delays vary between trusts but can include issues at the hospital or problems arranging suitable social care and support in the community.

Mr Taylor said he was now desperate to leave hospital and find a "forever home".

"I want to get back to doing the things we do together and enjoying the rest of my life, even though I've had to have a leg amputated," he said.

In a statement, Vico Homes said: "Our hospital-based housing team is supporting Mr Taylor and his family to find a suitable home as quickly as possible, with us or with another provider."

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