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Clacton: Help for Nicholas slowed by red tape

From the archive, first published Thursday 31st Jan 2008.

A man badly injured in an industrial accident is being forced to live in his parents' front room due to hospital red tape.

Nicholas Emery had just turned 24 when his leg was trapped in a newspaper printing machine while working as a forklift driver in London last August.

He explained: "The reel at the end had got stuck so I pushed it into place, but my foot went in and everything was shattered up to my knee.

"There were bones coming out of my leg - I thought I was dead."

Nicholas was rushed to hospital in London where he stayed for two and a half weeks, before moving to his parents' home in Burstall Close, Clacton.

He has since had two operations at Broomfield Hospital in Chelmsford to try and repair the damage, including the amputation of two of his toes and a skin graft from his stomach to his leg.

"I took it very hard at first," said Nicholas, who had to give up his role as a steward at West Ham United when he was injured.

"I kept breaking down in the hospital because I just didn't want to be there."

He added: "I still might lose my foot. I'm waiting to see if anything can be done, or whether it will have to be amputated. At least then I could get a prosthetic foot and be able to walk."

For the last five months, Nicholas has had to stay in his parents' living room in a single bed, as he is unable to get up the stairs of their house on his crutches.

With no downstairs shower, he is also forced to wash in a baby bath.

It has been a hard step backwards for Nicholas, who he had been used to his own flat in Canning Town before the accident.

His dad, Peter, said: "He's got no privacy or washing facilities, and it's difficult for the rest of the family - his brother Kiel, sister Alexis and nephew Teddy live here too. But there's nothing else we can do."

Tendring Council's social services department have told the family that amendments can be made to the house to accommodate Nicholas' needs, such as an extra room in the garden.

Alternatively, insurance company AIG would pay for moving costs to a different council house.

But first, Nicholas must receive a report from his surgeon at Broomfield - which he has been waiting for since November.

He must also wait for written confirmation before he can start physiotherapy - or get compensation from his company, which has admitted liability.

"Ever since I left hospital there's been so many promises," said Nicholas, who must take 21 different types of medication every day.

"But you're banging your head against a brick wall all the time. I just want some honest answers. I'm so frustrated - I've just been sitting here for five months."

Broomfield Hospital is governed by the Mid Essex Hospital Trust.

A spokeswoman said: "We cannot discuss individual cases but If Mr Emery would like to contact the trust directly we will look into this matter for him."