15/07/13 – Christine Maksymowicz from Cambridge who following an illness is now a Quadripelgic with her husband John Maksymowicz, they are concerned by failings of a care agency. Picture By Keith JonesA paralysed woman claims a shortage of suitable carers could force her into residential care.
Quadriplegic Christine Maksymowicz, of Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge, said she has been left without a live-in carer despite needing round-the-clock assistance.
She told the News she is being looked after by a district nurse while she waits for private care agency Pulse to provide a new carer.
However, the 60-year-old claims the changes have affected her quality of life and meant she has gone a week without going to the toilet.
She said: “The district nurses said they will only deal with my bowel movements twice a week, so if I can’t go on the day they come, then I won’t be able to go until the next week.”
Mrs Maksymowicz now fears she may have to go into residential care.
She said: “The nurse has now told me a bed is free for me at Askham Court care home. The last time I went into a care home, I was only supposed to go for a week and I ended up staying three months.
“This whole situation has left me extremely upset.”
Mrs Maksymowicz suffered an aneurysm in her spinal cord in 2010 and has been paralysed from the neck down ever since.
Her husband John told the News so far the company has not been able to find a replacement, leaving him to fill in the gaps in care which has meant he needs to take time off work.
He said: “The company said they were scouring the country for a carer who is suitable for Christine’s needs.
“She should have a live-in carer as I have to work and cannot afford to stop working to care for her.
“The care company are paid to provide a carer who can do her bowels, but they have not been doing so.
“Animals get treated better than this. This is atrocious.”
The News contacted Pulse which is commissioned to provide Mrs Maksymowicz’s care on behalf of Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).
A spokesman for the CCG said “Due to patient confidentiality Cambridgeshire and Peterborough CCG cannot comment on individual cases. However, all agencies commissioned by the CCG are registered with the Care Quality Commission who oversee the quality of the care provided”.
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/News/Carer-shortage-could-force-me-into-a-home-20130731060000.htm
