Seven months after being deemed fit to leave the hospital, 57-year-old David Taylor finds himself trapped in a rehabilitation ward, revealing that losing his leg was easier than the torment of searching for a new home.

David, a devoted grandfather to seven, was admitted to Pontefract Hospital last December following a life-threatening battle with sepsis that necessitated multiple surgeries, including the amputation of his left leg. Now, he faces a new challenge: his own home is physically inaccessible, leaving him stranded.

"I feel ripped apart being away from my family," David confesses. His longing to reunite with his wife and grandchildren intensifies every day he spends in the ward, confined to strict hospital routines.

David's journey began in November 2024 when a chest infection escalated into a life-altering medical crisis. After enduring five emergency surgeries, he was transferred to Pontefract for recovery, yet he hasn't been able to enjoy the comforts of home since.

Currently isolated in a side-room designed for brief stays, tensions rise as David’s mental health deteriorates. His wife, Kerry, has witnessed his struggle firsthand, expressing concern over his state of mind—a situation which recently prompted intervention from a mental health team.

"Two weeks ago, I rushed to the hospital because he was in such despair. It’s excruciating to see him like this," Kerry shares, capturing the couple's turmoil.

Despite applying for between 70 to 80 properties through Vico Homes, the local housing association, their situation remains unchanged. Although they fall within the highest priority group, suitable accommodations are lacking.

Vico Homes, previously known as Wakefield District Housing, suggested temporary modifications to David's current home, but an inspection revealed that it wouldn't adequately accommodate his wheelchair.

Kerry voices the couple’s desperation: "We’re begging for a place to live—how heartbreaking is that in the UK? Ten months apart shouldn't be our reality."

Wakefield Council, under the Homelessness Act 2002, has a responsibility to assist David in finding a suitable home. They initially proposed supported accommodation, but David refused, yearning for independence with Kerry.

Local Councillor Pete Girt, supporting David’s plight, expressed disbelief at the lack of a suitable property, emphasizing the pressing need to discharge David from the hospital and alleviate the burden on the NHS.

A spokesperson for Vico Homes stated their commitment to finding a suitable home for David and confirmed that adapting his current residence would not jeopardize his priority status for future accommodation.

Echoing this sentiment, Wakefield Council remarked, "We’ll continue to offer support for David’s discharge, alongside Vico Homes' promise to facilitate necessary adaptations." They reassured that he would retain his priority status while continuing his search for a long-term solution.