A Swindon woman left “terrified” at the thought of having to return to hospital has garnered huge support from the public and politicians towards her petition for change.

After a hospital stay, Nina Parry, 50, is visited by carers four times a day at home to help her with a neurological condition, but she was concerned that they might not be allowed to care for her if she were to be hospitalised.

She said: “I wouldn’t go back to hospital. I would do everything to not go back.

While Nina does not criticise the hospital staff during her initial stay, she explained that her worry was because busy hospital staff just could not understand her unique needs, unlike her personal carers.

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Nina has primary progressive multiple sclerosis and her carers cut up her food, shower her and exercise her. She said: “They’re lovely, and attend to all the needs that I have.

“I have two carers. In the hospital, I would have one nurse who would not understand my needs or medical equipment.”

However, she added: “Some care companies won't go into care for people when they are hospitalised. For whatever reason, they won't come in.”

When asked about Nina's petition, a spokesperson for Nina's care company Home Instead said: “We sympathise with Nina’s position. Unfortunately, it is normal for a person’s care to be taken over by the NHS when a person is admitted to hospital. 

“On admission, the NHS assumes responsibility for the patient and has a professional and legal duty to meet their needs."

But in an update, Nina added GWH and Home Instead, have come to an agreement that were she to need to return to hospital, carers would be able to accompany her. 

Great Western Hospital and local NHS have confirmed they are open to having carers come into the hospital to administer exactly the kind of care Nina wanted.

A Great Western Hospital spokesperson said: “Our clinical staff always work in collaboration with both paid and unpaid carers, to support patients whilst they are in hospital. 

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“We recognise that carers are often the experts in a patient’s care, and encourage them to visit the patient in hospital to continue the care they would provide at home.

“Whilst our staff maintain overall supervision of every patient, carers can undertake specific responsibilities in a ward environment to support a patient, and we would not normally prevent this from happening."

They advised that they have no general rule against carers coming in to help people wash, use the bathroom and continue eating, however Nina’s experience of talking to people has highlighted nationally that this is not the always the case.

A Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire Integrated Care Board spokesperson said: “We fully acknowledge that every patient’s care requirements are different, and we will always work with individuals and their families, as well as the care providers, to ensure that whatever measures are needed to uphold a person’s wellbeing – such as having a carer nearby – are, wherever possible, implemented without any barriers or obstacles.”

Nina’s petition demands that it be not only possible but mandatory that care companies continue their services in hospital premises - nicknaming this prospective obligation 'Nina's Law'. 

She says: “We urge the NHS and the government to stipulate that CHC (continuous health care) is a mandatory specification of a care companies contract. 

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“They must support disabled patients to have their carers continue their care visits on hospital premises while they are admitted.”

She adds: “This shift in policy would alleviate pressure from nursing staff and ensure that patients receive needed care without interruption.”

Her petition has been signed by 22,814 people and has support from Will Stone, MP for Swindon North.

His spokesperson said: “Will Stone, MP for Swindon North has offered his support for the ‘Nina’s Law’ petition that would see carers given the right to continue caring for those in their charge. 

“Will says, “Nina’s Law’ just makes sense, if we can reduce the burden on NHS staff, the costs to the NHS and give patients comfort and continuity of care then I can’t see why I wouldn’t support this sensible measure.”

You can view the petition here.

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