Teen 'stuck' in bed for 104 days after NHS delays left her without wheelchair
A brave teen was unable to attend school for an entire term after she was hit with a delay for her new wheelchair.
Abbie Hughes, 16, who has cerebral palsy and lung disease, was "stuck" in bed for a staggering 104 days as she waited for the NHS to provide her with a new chair.
The GCSE student, from Chell, Stoke-on-Trent, had to undergo gruelling spinal surgery for scoliosis as her spine was "so curved it was crushing her lungs." Her mum feared she could have died if she didn't have the surgery which took place on September 5.
As part of the operation, Abbie had to have 26 screws and two metal bars inserted in her back. She was discharged from hospital nine days later and needed another wheelchair as she had grown 20 centimetres after the life-changing operation.
Abbie was measured for the new wheelchair on October 11 and was told it would be delivered within three weeks. But it only arrived just days before Christmas. It means Abbie missed the entire first term of her year 11 studies at Watermill School.
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Abbie underwent spinal surgery in September (Abbie Hughes)
X-rays show her spine before and after surgery (Abbie Hughes)Abbie said: “I was diagnosed with scoliosis in 2020 and had been awaiting surgery ever since then. Over the years, my curvature of the spine had got progressively worse and it was now impacting my lungs and how much air was able to pass through them and it was impacting my breathing to the stage where my lungs were only producing 30 per cent of air and I had to have a sleep study.
“The surgery was my only hope and option to living a much longer life and getting to experience amazing opportunities and it has given me a much better quality of life. It has been the best possible outcome my family and I could have ever asked for and I can’t fault my surgeon at all. He did an incredibly amazing job."
Speaking about how her education has been impacted by the surgery, she added: "I was supposed to start in Year 11 on the day of my surgery but I didn’t complain because health comes first and my school was incredibly supportive of me. The hospital sent me home without a wheelchair as the one I had prior to the surgery was now too small for me because I had grown by 30 centimetres after the surgery. There wasn’t even a question of putting me in the chair that I came to the hospital in as I knew it would be too painful and it looked too small.
“I was measured for my own wheelchair on October 11 and I was told it would be ready within three weeks and that we would receive a call once it was ready for collection. Ever since that day my mum made countless phone calls for countless updates to see where my chair was. All they kept telling us was ‘Oh we’re sorry but we’re still waiting for a delivery date’.
Abbie recieved her wheelchair just before Christmas (Abbie Hughes)
Abbie outgrew her old wheelchair after she added height after the surgery (Abbie Hughes)“Because of all this I hadn’t been to school since Friday,July 21 meaning I’ve missed out on months of education. This is my last year in school before I move onto college."
Abbie said she is "grateful" for her family's help during the difficult time, reports StokeonTrentLive. "My mum has been amazing because she’s had to help me shower and get dressed which I wouldn’t want my dad or anyone else helping with because I’m 16 and would like my own privacy," she said. "I’m glad to have such supportive parents and extended family members - especially my sister-in-law who’s helped me a lot.”
Mum Nicola said: “Abbie was so limited to what she could do because she wasn't able to walk or bend over. She would have died if she hadn't had the operation because her spine was so curved it was crushing her lungs.
“Since the operation, everything just went wrong for her so we’re relieved to have the wheelchair now because it brings her some independence. I’d been on the phone to the wheelchair service almost everyday, angry and crying. It really knocked both Abbie’s and the family’s mental health.
“Abbie is such an intelligent girl and has been lost without being able to go to school. We needed this wheelchair. I didn’t want her to be stuck in bed and unable to see her family and friends during Christmas, so we’re glad it’s finally arrived.”
AJM Healthcare - which is responsible for wheelchair services in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent - has not responded to StokeonTrentLive's request for a statement regarding Abbie's case.
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But a spokesperson for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board said: “Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Integrated Care Board and our suppliers are aware of some delays experienced by people and are working together to reduce any further delays. We understand the importance of these mobility aids and the wellbeing and care of everyone is our utmost priority.”
The Mirror contacted AJM for comment.
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