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Norfolk bed-blocking patient ends hunger strike | Norfolk bed-blocking patient ends hunger strike |
(1 day later) | |
A patient evicted from hospital after spending more than two years in a bed has ended a hunger strike. | A patient evicted from hospital after spending more than two years in a bed has ended a hunger strike. |
Adriano Guedes, 64, who was paralysed by a stroke in 2008, was admitted to the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk, in 2014. | Adriano Guedes, 64, who was paralysed by a stroke in 2008, was admitted to the James Paget University Hospital in Gorleston, Norfolk, in 2014. |
He was evicted last month after the hospital obtained a court order and is now in a council flat in Suffolk. | He was evicted last month after the hospital obtained a court order and is now in a council flat in Suffolk. |
Authorities said Mr Guedes' refusal to co-operate had hindered them. | Authorities said Mr Guedes' refusal to co-operate had hindered them. |
Mr Guedes, a quadriplegic, started a hunger strike to protest against his treatment in the health and care system. | Mr Guedes, a quadriplegic, started a hunger strike to protest against his treatment in the health and care system. |
For more stories, visit BBC Local Live: Norfolk | |
He said he had 2,000 different carers since his stroke in 2008. | He said he had 2,000 different carers since his stroke in 2008. |
In January he was removed from hospital in a wheelchair following a court order and placed temporarily in an unfurnished council flat in Suffolk. | In January he was removed from hospital in a wheelchair following a court order and placed temporarily in an unfurnished council flat in Suffolk. |
For 24 days he refused to eat, surviving on fruit juice. Carers, provided by social services, still visit him four times a day. | For 24 days he refused to eat, surviving on fruit juice. Carers, provided by social services, still visit him four times a day. |
"I am sick of having the authorities deciding where I should live, when I should eat, how much I eat," said Mr Guedes, who came to the UK from Portugal to work 15 years ago. | "I am sick of having the authorities deciding where I should live, when I should eat, how much I eat," said Mr Guedes, who came to the UK from Portugal to work 15 years ago. |
He has now given up the hunger strike after the BBC put him in touch with patients' rights campaigner Patrick Thompson. | He has now given up the hunger strike after the BBC put him in touch with patients' rights campaigner Patrick Thompson. |
Mr Thompson, who served on health boards for 40 years, said the case highlighted the need for better integration between health and social care services. | Mr Thompson, who served on health boards for 40 years, said the case highlighted the need for better integration between health and social care services. |
"If I hadn't persuaded him to come off the hunger strike, we would have ended up with an inquest and then fingers would have been pointed," he said. | "If I hadn't persuaded him to come off the hunger strike, we would have ended up with an inquest and then fingers would have been pointed," he said. |
A spokesman for Suffolk Social Services said: "We explored all options available, but they were declined by him." | A spokesman for Suffolk Social Services said: "We explored all options available, but they were declined by him." |
James Paget Hospital University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust told the BBC it had acted "compassionately". | James Paget Hospital University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust told the BBC it had acted "compassionately". |
Waveney Council, which is responsible for housing, said the current flat was only meant to be temporary and adaptations were not possible until Mr Guedes co-operated with a wheelchair assessment. | Waveney Council, which is responsible for housing, said the current flat was only meant to be temporary and adaptations were not possible until Mr Guedes co-operated with a wheelchair assessment. |
Exclusive full story Inside Out BBC ONE East Monday 19:30. | Exclusive full story Inside Out BBC ONE East Monday 19:30. |
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