A woman, who spent 18 months in a hospital bed despite being medically fit to leave, has been arrested and evicted to a care home after the NHS took costly legal action against her.
Jessie, 35, spent 550 days at Northampton General Hospital, after arriving on April 14 2023 for treatment for cellulitis, which should lead to a temporary stay.
But, by the end of April, doctors declared her medically fit for discharge – yet there was nowhere for her to go as her nursing home of nine years could no longer accommodate her needs.
Jessie, who is unable to work and reliant on benefits, was diagnosed with an emotionally unstable personality disorder and requires help with all personal care.
‘I feel very angry, upset, worthless, and like my mental health and my life doesn’t matter,’ she told BBC News.
Her case has drawn attention to the severe pressure on the care system and the growing number of patients trapped in hospital beds due to a shortage of social care.
Trapped in a six-bedded ward, her mental health deteriorated rapidly. She was isolated, drawn the curtains to avoid the stares of others, and found solace in the comfort of her toys.
Jessie, 35, spent 550 days at Northampton General Hospital, after arriving on April 14 2023 for treatment for cellulitis, which should lead to a temporary stay
By the time a suitable care place was found, Jessie’s case had gone to the High Court.
The council responsible for her care, North Northamptonshire Council, has been tight-lipped about the ongoing investigation into her behaviour, which includes alleged incidents such as sending offensive emails before her eviction.
The hospital, meanwhile, insisted that Jessie’s lengthy stay was no longer justifiable, citing the significant cost of keeping her in an acute care setting.
After 18 months in hospital, Jessie was arrested by police on October 14, 2024, and taken to a care home in a nearby town.
Her legal documents stated that the council investigated nearly 120 care places, but only one care home was offered to her.
This was a supported living flat in a nearby town, with two care staff initially present 24 hours a day.
But the memories of the town are painful for Jessie, who claims that ‘bad things’ happened there.
Her forced move left her feeling ‘suicidal’ and she refused the only option offered to her.
Jessie’s case is one of many highlighting the cracks in the social care system. At the start of 2025, official figures show that nearly 13,000 of the UK’s 100,000 hospital beds were occupied by patients who had no medical reason to remain in hospital.
The Department of Health and Social Care has acknowledged the problem, calling it a ‘broken NHS discharge system’ that is failing vulnerable individuals like Jessie.
The council responsible for her care, North Northamptonshire Council, has been tight-lipped about the ongoing investigation into her behaviour, which includes alleged incidents such as sending offensive emails before her eviction
With local councils stretched thin, care providers struggle to offer long-term solutions, relying on temporary funding for services that leave them unable to commit to long-term care plans.
After a year of waiting, the council offered her a single option for care – the supported living flat, which she rejected due to her distress over the location.
In court, legal documents showed that Jessie had not been able to express her preferences for the care facility she was placed in.
The hospital and council insisted they were doing their best to offer suitable alternatives. However, with no advocate to represent her in court, Jessie was left alone as legal action progressed.
Finally, in October 2024, after more than 16 months in hospital, the court ruled that Jessie must leave.
Desperate for a solution, she was arrested and transferred to a care home in the nearby town where she felt unsafe.
Since then, Jessie has claimed to have self-harmed multiple times, and the police have been called to the care home on three separate occasions. She is now seeking support from a new advocate.
