Patient 'stuck' in hospital after leg amputation

A man is sitting in a wheelchair in a hospital room.  His left leg has been amputated below the knee.  There is a bandage over the end of his affected leg.  He is next to a hospital bed which looks as though he's been lying in it.Image source, David Taylor
Image caption,

David Taylor said the delay in leaving hospital was affecting his mental health

  • Published

A man who had his leg amputated following a sepsis infection has said it was "soul-destroying" that he remained in hospital because no suitable housing could be found.

David Taylor, from Knottingley in West Yorkshire, has been ready for discharge since the middle of January but cannot return home because his wheelchair will not fit into his house.

The 56-year-old said he had applied for "at least" 12 new properties through the local housing association but so far had not been successful.

Vico Homes, which was formerly known as Wakefield District Housing, said it was supporting his family to find a home "as quickly as possible".

Mr Taylor was only given a 50% chance of survival when he was rushed to Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield last November.

A chest infection had developed into a life-threatening sepsis, which required five emergency operations, including the amputation of his left leg below the knee.

A month later, he was moved to Pontefract Hospital to continue his recovery, where he has been ever since.

A man wearing a black t-shirt is lying on a hospital bed.  He is propped up by a number of pillows.  He has very short hair and an unshaven face.  His eyes are looking to one side and he appears sad.Image source, David Taylor
Image caption,

David Taylor was given a 50% chance of survival due to a sepsis infection

Mr Taylor said an inspection of his property had revealed the doors and hallway were too narrow for his wheelchair.

Recording his thoughts on a phone from his hospital bed, Mr Taylor said the delay was having an effect on his mental health.

"I'm just getting totally numb," he said. "I've been crying on a night and I'm just missing my family that much."

Mr Taylor said he had made bids on new properties in eight different areas of Wakefield through the housing association with no success.

In January, he was offered a place in respite accommodation but turned it down because he wants to live independently.

Mr Taylor's wife, Kerry, described the situation as "stupid" and a "complete waste of NHS money".

"He's sat in a room on his own 24/7, costing God knows what, and they can't help us get a flat or a bungalow," she said.

A woman with short blonde hair and glasses is sitting on a grey sofa in her living room.  She is wearing a black, loose necked jumper over a black t-shirt.
Image caption,

Kerry Taylor said it was a "crazy situation" that her husband was still in hospital

Figures from NHS England, external showed that in January 2025 more than 3,500 patients were discharged from Mid Yorkshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, which oversees Pontefract Hospital.

Of these, 83.5% were discharged on the day they should have been, but 16.5% were not, meaning more than 3,300 bed days were lost.

The reasons for delays vary between trusts but can include issues at the hospital or problems arranging suitable social care and support in the community.

Mr Taylor said he was now desperate to leave hospital and find a "forever home".

"I want to get back to doing the things we do together and enjoying the rest of my life, even though I've had to have a leg amputated," he said.

In a statement, Vico Homes said: "Our hospital-based housing team is supporting Mr Taylor and his family to find a suitable home as quickly as possible, with us or with another provider."

Get in touch

Tell us which stories we should cover in Yorkshire

Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.