NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said they are in contact with the family and engaged in discussion about care options
Rebecca Metcalf, 28,(Image: Liverpool Echo)
A devoted daughter has found herself navigating a labyrinthine care system, in a desperate fight to get her mum the help she needs. When she detailed the extent of her mum’s bruising from constant falls, Rebecca Metcalf, 28, said she was told to ‘put a helmet on her head’.
Not so long ago, Rebecca would be relying on her mum for support, but after Marie Metcalf suffered four strokes in two years, Rebecca now dedicates most of her time to caring for her mum.
Marie, 57, was living independently up to June this year, but her life has been devastated by a series of debilitating strokes, leaving her with severe mobility issues, diminished cognitive function and dependent on constant support. Rebecca said:: “We just didn’t expect any of this to happen.”
While in Broadgreen Hospital, Rebecca and her family knew Marie could not cope on her own, so they started looking for a residential care home. Rebecca worked with the hospital’s social work team to find suitable accommodation.
After numerous problems with funding, Marie was eventually placed at Finch Manor care home in Knotty Ash. Rebecca describes the transition to Finch Manor as bittersweet because – while the facility itself provides excellent care – Rebecca said her mum was reliant on a support package funded by NHS Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Board (ICB).
Rebecca Metcalf, 28,(Image: Liverpool Echo)
The convoluted funding structure has compounded the challenges. While the care home accommodation is covered by the local authority, the ICB funds her one-to-one support via a private agency. Rebecca describes the process as impersonal, bureaucratic and disempowering.
She said: “The ICB promised Finch Manor 1:1 provision, but it’s now gone from 20 hours now to only 11 hours. They told us at 5pm on a Friday night and it was with immediate effect.”
“How can they say my mum doesn’t need 1:1 care? They know she falls, she falls out of bed and is left alone stranded.
“I said to the ICB, if my mum was to fall and whack her head, then that’s so dangerous. I’ve been told if my mum was to bump her head, because of what she’s been through and how frail she is, it’s very likely it could cause a bleed on the brain.
“I told them we can’t accept that level of risk, but we were told to just put a helmet on her head. So my mum’s got to live with a helmet on for the rest of her life? We were told that is one ‘strategy’ we could use. I couldn’t believe my ears.
Bruising visible on Marie Metcalf’s leg after a fall(Image: Copyright Unknown)
“I’ve shown the ICB photographs of my mum covered from head-to-toe in bruises because of the falls she has and asking them ‘how can you not think she needs 1:1 care’.
“They’ve admitted as much by providing some hours so why not the hours she actually needs? It’s not like she can plan the times of her falls.”
According to Marie’s family, the inadequacy of the care package has left them with 13 hours to fill everyday. Even though the family are happy with Finch Manor, they can only provide hourly checks and general nursing. Rebecca said even the care home agreed Marie needed Elderly Mentally Infirm (EMI) care.
Rebecca’s own life has been heavily impacted by her mum’s circumstances. She juggles care responsibilities with raising two children with autism, often missing precious time with them to advocate for Marie.
Marie Metcalf, 57(Image: Copyright Unknown)
She added: “Mum has been my best friend, and I’ve suffered with PTSD from what I’ve suffered in the past. I’ve got a lot to deal with, but because my mum was always there for me, I have to be there for her.”
For Marie, the days are now measured in careful supervision, agency staff visits, and the vigilance of her family. Her daughter believes each hour without adequate support presents a tangible risk of falls, injury, or medical complications.
As the NHS and social care systems face mounting pressure, Rebecca wanted to share her story because she said it highlights the real-world consequences of policy and funding constraints.
She hopes her public account will not only help secure the care her mother deserves but also add to a broader debate about the current state of health and social care: “This shouldn’t be happening to anyone. No one should have to fight so hard just to keep their loved one safe.”
A spokesperson for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside said: “We continue to be in contact with Ms Metcalf’s family regarding her ongoing care.
“While we’re unable to comment on individual cases due to our commitment to patient confidentiality, all patients are regularly reviewed by clinicians to ensure they are receiving the most appropriate care for their needs.”