Disabled Woman Says She Was Betrayed After Being Put in Nursing Home Against Her Will

Published: 25 February 2026 . The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online

A 33‑year‑old disabled woman has spoken of feeling “betrayed, worthless and frightened” after being moved into a nursing home against her wishes — a decision her supporters say was made without her consent and has sparked questions about how high‑needs care is being managed by local NHS authorities. Lucinda Ritchie, of Billingshurst in West Sussex, had lived independently in an adapted bungalow with round‑the‑clock nursing support before being admitted to hospital with pneumonia in April 2025. After a prolonged stay of nearly ten months, she expected to be discharged back home, but instead was transferred this February to a care home in Uckfield, around an hour from her family.

Ritchie, who has a complex medical profile including Ehlers‑Danlos syndrome, a tracheostomy and occasional ventilator use, said she had refused the move but was nevertheless taken to the nursing home. Her mother said the family was not shown a care plan for the new placement beforehand, and described seeing her powered wheelchair switched off and pushed during the transfer. In a subsequent interview, Ritchie said the experience had left her feeling “devastated” and that being forced into institutional care had stripped her of control over her life.

Before her hospital admission, Ritchie had 24‑hour one‑to‑one nursing funded under NHS Continuing Healthcare (CHC), and she had been able to see family and friends easily, pursue a master’s degree, and participate in university and charity activities. She continued to express her desire to live at home with her existing care package rather than in a care facility subject to institutional routines and policies. “Life will not be worth living if I cannot go home,” she said.

An independent barrister told the BBC that it is “very unusual” — and, in law, potentially unlawful — for an adult with full mental capacity to be moved into a residential setting without consent. NHS Sussex, which commissioned her care through its All Age Continuing Care board, has denied that funding considerations influenced the decision, saying the placement was based on clinical safety. However, critics of the case say disputes over funding and eligibility for CHC packages are a national issue affecting people with high‑dependence care needs across the country.

Her legal representatives have argued that Ritchie’s established home care provider had confirmed it was fully capable of meeting her needs, including specialised support such as tracheostomy and ventilation care. They say they sought meaningful engagement with NHS commissioners to explore a safe return home, but were not given substantive responses. In the days after her transfer, Ritchie’s condition deteriorated and she was taken back to hospital, prompting renewed scrutiny of the decision‑making process.

NHS officials have said they are committed to working with the Ritchie family to ensure high quality and safe care that meets her needs, and that future long‑term plans will be developed in consultation with all parties involved. Families and advocacy groups say the case highlights broader systemic problems in how high‑need care is planned and funded, particularly when independent living arrangements are pitted against residential placements.

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