'Locked-in' Sheffield man waits two weeks to fly home

David Collings suffered a stroke while on holiday in France on 23 December

A man who suffered a stroke while on holiday in France had to wait more than two weeks before he was allowed to transfer to a hospital near his home.

David Collings, from Sheffield, was taken to hospital in Dieppe when he had a stroke which led to locked-in syndrome on 23 December.

The 59-year-old's family said they were told no intensive care beds were available near his home.

He has since been offered a bed at Rotherham District General Hospital.

Mr Collings was due to be transferred from France to the hospital on Tuesday afternoon.

Carole Collings said her husband should get "the full care he needs and deserves"

His wife Carole said he was cleared to fly by doctors on 30 December, but their insurance company Intana said there were no hospital beds available in his local area.

She had to return home on Monday as funding for her to stay in France, made available by insurers, had run out.

She added that she, along with her son and two daughters, were experiencing a "living nightmare".

Locked-in syndrome?

Those with the syndrome are almost completely paralysed and sometimes only able to move their eyes up and down, or to blink. They cannot move but they are fully conscious.

It usually results from a massive haemorrhage, thrombosis, or other damage, affecting upper parts of brain-stem

Almost all motor function is destroyed but the higher mental functions are left intact

The most common cause of locked-in syndrome is a stroke

Mr Collings, from Aston, is an outwardly fit and active man who has previously cycled the coast of the UK to raise money for Bluebell Wood Hospice.

He has also donated platelets more than 100 times.

Mrs Collings said: "We felt that in France he had been treated really well, so then to be hit with 'no there's no bed', day after day, and knowing that I couldn't stay where I was, well... if it wasn't for my daughters I don't know where I would be."

A spokesperson from Intana said: "Our aim is to ensure a smooth repatriation to the UK to allow treatment to be continued as close to home as possible.

"This entails ensuring the availability of an intensive care unit (ICU) bed for Mr Collings and we have been in daily dialogue with the NHS as well as the Emergency Bed Service on the matter."

A spokesman from Rotherham NHS Foundation Trust said: "We are preparing to repatriate a gentleman to Rotherham from France.

"A bed will be available for him at Rotherham Hospital.

"We will work with him and his family to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible and he receives the care he needs."