Ex-GP left to languish in hospital amid funds row

FORMER GP and mother of four Vigneswary Ramachandran, 82, from Morden, south London, was admitted to hospital following a stroke last April, which left her unable to speak, eat and paralysed down her right side.

Although deemed fit to be discharged from hospital in July, she could not leave due to an argument between her council and the local health authority over who was responsible for funding her care at home.

Her son, Rajkumar, 48, who gave up his job as a postman to look after his mother, enlisted the help of his MP, Siobhain McDonagh, to secure her hospital discharge.

After a series of letter exchanges, Mrs Ramachandran was released in August.

However, when she arrived home, her family discovered she still did not have the vital equipment she needed for home care, including a wheelchair and shower chair.

Two months later these were supplied after Ms McDonagh again intervened.

Mr Ramachandran carries out much of the daily tasks for his mother, such as helping her feed, wash, move and take her medication, because the three allocated daily carer visits – 45 minutes in the morning and two 30 minute slots in the afternoon – would not leave enough time to cover them.

“It can take over 45 minutes just to feed her, let alone keep her clean, do the shopping, wash her clothes and all the other things,” Mr Ramachandran said.