‘How ill do you have to be to get care funding? Widow calls for ‘more sympathetic’ system
ULCERATIVE colitis, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, double incontinence, chronic kidney disease, unable to move or feed himself.
These were just some of the problems Barry Balderstone, from Bollington, had when it is claimed his medical needs were deemed insufficient to qualify for full Continuing Healthcare Funding.
The following day the 75-year-old died from advanced Parkinson’s and weighed just 45kg.
Barry was in Mount Hall Care Home, Bollington, and his widow Marilyn says he qualified for the lesser amount of £150 a week under the Continuing Healthcare scheme.
But East Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said he was not eligible for the full funding, which would have paid for all of his care needs.
Marilyn said twice the CCG turned his bid down and the second time Marilyn appealed with a hearing in July 2019.
She said she was told the appeal had failed on October 6, the day this picture of Barry was taken, and he died on October 7.
Health bosses say the decisions were made following ‘faithful’ application of nationally set criteria.
Although Marilyn, 73, says the photo was taken after her husband’s health had ‘ gone downhill’ she says he was very ill for a long time. She said: “That picture haunts me but I took it as I thought they needed to know how ill he was, he looked so terrible. How ill do you have to be to qualify?
”The assessments are incredibly difficult, you have to score high or severe but you realise you are not going to get it. It’s very stressful and you come out of it absolutely wiped out but I thought I had to do something (appeal) it seemed so unfair and he was getting worse and worse.
”There needs to be a more sympathetic attitude and more help for the family. If it (speaking out) helps anyone else in the same position then it will have been worth it.”
Barry, a former civil engineer, went into a nursing home three years ago, initially Highfield House, on Park Lane, before switching to Mount Hall in April 2019.
A bid for full funding was turned down in 2017 and then again at a review in October 2018, which Marilyn appealed.
In the meantime the couple, who married in 1993, saw a ‘substantial part’ their savings and pension disappear to foot the bill.
Marilyn says fighting the decision cost another £3,500 and that the assessment is designed to score people low so they do not qualify for full funding.
She added the family of patients need to be more involved in the decision process.
Karen Smith, associate director for NHS Continuing Healthcare Services, said: “We are sorry to learn of the patient’s death and we extend our thoughts to his family at this difficult time. However, we do not comment on the particulars of individual cases.
“The criteria for determining eligibility for Continuing Healthcare funding are set nationally by NHS England and applied faithfully by the Cheshire CCGs. Should the patient’s family wish to appeal the funding decision, the CCG will support them through the process.”