Barrow family's life savings spent on carers to be reimbursed

The family of former shipyard worker Jim Finch were ‘appalled’ after they were forced to pay out £20,000 for at-home carers despite the severity of Mr Finch's case.

Following an article in The Mail, Mr Finch's wife, Tracy, said health bosses have informed the family that Mr Finch does meet the criteria for at-home care and they will be reimbursed for the money spent on carers.

She said she was ‘blown away’ by the development after months of desperate pleas.

“When we got the call, we were actually quite shocked. It’s been going on for so long now,” Mrs Finch said.

“This will mean our future is now secure.

“We don’t know where we’d have ended up if this had carried on. It’s a big relief to us all.

"We’re just blown away by it all. We’re so relieved we can just stop worrying about it all now and carry on with our lives.

“This isn’t just for me and Jimmy, it’s for other people in the same situation.

“If anyone is in a similar position, fight for what is right and what you’re entitled to.”

In a letter seen by The Mail, the NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria Care Board (ICB) said Mr Finch does meet the elegibility criteria for NHS-funded care and the ICB will fund the full cost of the care package from August last year. 

A letter sent by the care board to James Finch (Image: Newsquest)

Mr Finch has been in a wheelchair for the past 20 years after he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 30 years ago.

The Barrow dad-of-two's health took a turn for the worse last year when he developed a pressure sore while on holiday which led to a two-month hospitalisation to help treat the wound.

The 63-year-old, who formerly played rugby for Walney Central and coached the mini-rugby team, has been bed-bound for the last three months due to the pressure sore and has been undergoing daily treatment from at-home carers.

After around 12 weeks the family was informed by the ICB that the treatment could no longer be funded due to Mr Finch ‘no longer qualifying’ for NHS-funded care.

The family appealed the decision and Mr Finch was assessed via Zoom but, again, care bosses decided he did not qualify for NHS-funded care.

They immediately appealed against the decision again but were forced to fund the care themselves at a cost of £900 per week.

In November a home assessment was carried out on the back of the appeal and the original decision was overturned.

Jim Finch and his wife Tracy (Image: Newsquest)

READ MORE: Barrow family forced to pay £20k savings after NHS-funded care pulled

But four months later Mr Finch’s wife Tracy was told it had been ‘too long’ since the November assessment and the decision no longer stands.

To date, the family has spent £20,000 on carers who come daily into the home. Concerned for their future, they began campaigning for the NHS-paid treatment to resume and their life savings reinstated.

A spokeswoman for the ICB said the family had been contacted and the care board has asked for a review of the case.