Edward Rainey
A paralysed artist has been forced to fork out £180 a week for care after his benefits were cut.
Edward Rainey, who has no use of his body below his neck, is shelling out the cash despite being in an NHS hospital.
He needs round-the-clock care and was “strongly advised” by staff at South General Hospital, Glasgow, to hire a private carer.
Mr Rainey said: “It’s deplorable. I just want to go back home. I’m not too ill. I think I could be out of hospital in three to four weeks.”
His independent living allowance was cut because he was admitted to hospital in January, leaving him to pay for the shortfall.
Mr Rainey, who was paralysed in a holiday swimming pool accident 30 years ago, said: “I have to have my carer coming in every day. This is on the strong advice of the hospital.
“It costs me £180 a week. I’m having to pay even though my allowance has been stopped.”
His carer helps him to eat and wash as well as changing his dressings and checking the machines that keep him alive.
Staff at the hospital are also unhappy with the situation and privately told the family they should go to the Scottish Daily Record to highlight his case.
Mr Rainey, a former soldier, said: “If I don’t take the care package they have arranged to go into a home, then I’ll not get any finance at all.
“I’ve got my own house. I’ve been out in the community for 30 years. They are violating my human rights.
“I feel there have been meetings when I’ve not been present, with no one representing me.
“They are reluctant to go on with my benefit from the independent living fund because I keep going into hospital. I can’t help that. I have a problem with my lungs.”
His niece, Bianca, said: “He doesn’t want to go to a home. He paints, he gets up, he socialises with friends. He is just a normal 52-year-old guy with a spinal injury.”
She added: “They have just all agreed that it is easier for them for him to go into a home.
“They have no right at all to tell him they are taking his money off him until he does.”
A spokesman for Glasgow City Council said: “Edward has major social care needs and requires round-the-clock support and supervision.
“Recent developments with his health and care arrangements mean living at home now carries a significant risk to his wellbeing.
“Social work staff cannot ignore these changes to his circumstances.
“They have concluded that Edward’s care needs would now be most appropriately provided for in a residential care home.”
A hospital spokesman added: “At this patient’s request, Mr Rainey’s long-term carer attends to his personal needs while he is in hospital.”
Same Difference 
I agree totally with Edward, he should be able to stay in his home and not have to pay out of his own pocket for his carer. Trying to put him in a care home ( against his wishes ) is not in his best interests but then we all know it is not about helping the individual but an exercise in the Government saving money yet again despite the detrimental effect that this has on people like Edward. If I was Edward, I would consider taking the case to court on the grounds of violation of his human rights.
All the best Edward, I really hope you get the result that you’re after.
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This man is entitled to NHS funded continuing health care, so should not be funding his own care. His family need to get him assessed, the Spinal Injuries association have written guidance on how to claim this. Get family to look at website and contact them. Case law, but English, (dont know about law in Scotland) protects and sets precedence for people with Spinal cord injuries.
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Every person has their monies cut whilst in hospital, but not everyone wants to have their personal carer instead of the hospital staff. However where he goes and what care he gets after he goes home should involve him in the decision making process, not be a fait-acompli by Social Services, based purely on what is best for them rather than him.
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what makes them think he will get the proper care in a care home I would ,like to know. You only need to read newspapers/listen to news etc to know that the number of care homes are dwindling,. being closed down etc plus the numbers of staff being taken to court charged with abusing one or more people in their care is rising. as someone who dreads the thought of ever being in that situation where i have no choice but to go into care. i can appreciate Edwards feelings. plus an 88 year old friend of mine, who, after a mild stroke on top of lifelong leg ulcers and lymphodema of around 2-3 yrs standing, was deemed not to be coping specially after that lymphodema became infected and she was whipped into hospital. couple of weeks later she was put in a nursing home supposedly for rehabilitation. within less than 2 weeks she is back in hospital with heart failure and fluid on her lungs. this lady was always active.and very fit for her age apart from the leg problem. no circulation problems. she had all the tests to make sure.and as her legs and arms were not affected by the stroke, once home and recovered, could have resumed her normal life again. what happened in that home? or was it a case of it didnt happen but should have…i.e. sitting them in their chairs all day every day no exercise etc.cos its easier for the staff. she is still in hospital 3 weeks later. so no i agree with Edward too. our lives are no longer our own. (read the mail re children and the govt proposals to take more kids from lloving parents just cos THEY think they arent coping when theres a bin bag to be taken out (probavly next time they go out..i do that), washing up in the sink waiting to be done. this bloody lot are on cloud cuckoo land. sorry IN it. not on it.
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