Elderly woman fears eviction in care row

Gwyneth Norton, 79, of Shawbury, has been receiving what is known as Continuing Health Care since being transferred from the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to a nursing home in December 2007.

The health problems she suffers from include congested heart disease, hypertension, angina, chronic kidney disease, abdominal hernia, hiatus hernia and osteoarthritis.

Mrs Norton has also suffered three heart attacks, a collapsed lung and several blood clots in her lungs over the last two years.

She cannot be moved without a hoist, is doubly incontinent, has limited use of her right arm and hand, is blind in her left eye due to cataract and has an ongoing gynaecological problem.

But after being assessed by a team from the Shropshire County Primary Care Trust, her CHC funding, which runs in several hundred pounds, will be stopped on November 16.

A week ago the Shropshire Star revealed the family of an 82-year-old Shrewsbury woman was planning to appeal the loss of her CHC funding.

Beryl Knafele suffer- ed two strokes at the beginning of the year and is in a nursing home. She is doubly incontinent, has vascular dementia and also cannot move without the aid of a hoist.

Mrs Norton's family also plan to appeal the decision.

Daughter Lucy Eccleston, of Shawbury, said: "My mo- ther is an extremely poorly woman. The uncertainty of her health care is causing her a great deal of distress.

"We are absolutely astounded and baffled by the decision. As far as she is concerned, she honestly believes she is going to be thrown onto the streets and nobody is going to look after her."

Wendy Richardson, nurse manager for the continuing healthcare team at Shropshire County PCT said: "Where a patient or their family is unhappy with the PCT decision they have the right to request the PCT to review their decision or ask for an independent review of the case by West Midlands Strategic Health Authority."

By Health Correspondent Dave Morris