World War II veteran with Parkinson's disease deteriorates in care home as bosses argue over who should pay his fees | the Daily Mail A man who fought in World War II is feared to be starving to death after he was admitted into a care home in Manchester. Gerard Weston, 82, has lost two stone in six months and his family claim he looks like a "concentration camp victim". A progressive Parkinson's disease sufferer for the past 10 years, Mr Weston is unable to feed himself and is confined to a wheelchair. Currently, health and local authority bosses are arguing over who should pay for the grandfather's council care. Today, Mr Weston's family urged the authorities to treat him with respect and sort out their issues. Son Mark, a 47-year old accountant, said: "My father has fought for his country and the fact is it owes him a debt of gratitude. "Yet he looks like a concentration camp victim in the care home whilst the authorities argue over red tape." The former Navy engineer went into Holme Lea Care Centre in Stalybridge, Greater Manchester, last October weighing 9st. In just six months, his weight has plummeted by two stone and he currently weighs 7st. His two concerned sons, Mark and Neil, have blamed the rapid weight loss on the decision by Tameside and Glossop Primary Care Trust to class their father as needing only residential care and not nursing care. Despite his GP recommending that he be provided with nursing care, Mr Weston remains in a residential home where he is expected to feed himself. If he was given nursing care then he would be fed by others, ensuring he received the vital nutrition that he needs. However, Tameside and Glossop PCT believe Mr Weston's situation isn't critical, following assessments to decide on the correct method of care. A spokesman for the Trust said: "Mr Weston has received thorough nursing assessments by the district nursing team to establish the most appropriate form of care to suit his current needs. "At the present time a move from residential care is not indicated. "The importance of Mr Weston's welfare is paramount to the team and they have invited Mr Weston's family to attend a multi-disciplinary meeting concerning his condition where any concerns that may have been addressed." But father-of-three Mark fears the on-going dispute over his father's care is continuing for financial reasons, with the authorities attempting to save money. He said: "We wonder if he has been classified as residential and not nursing so as to insist that he makes a contribution towards his care." While in a residential home Mr Weston makes a financial contribution to his care but if he were living in a nursing home, his care would be paid for entirely by the state. A spokesman for Meridian Care, which owns Holme Lea Care Centre, said: "Our understanding is that the matter is currently part of a statutory complaint made to and being handled by Tameside Council. "As such it would not be in anyone's interest for us to provide a comment or further information at this stage." A Tameside Council spokesman said: "The Council is aware of this case and is currently working directly with Mr Weston, his family and the health service to resolve their concerns. "As this matter is subject to a statutory complaint at the present time the Council is unable to comment on specific aspects of the case." During the war, Mr Weston was stationed in Gibraltar at the age of just 19 and later returned to Britain to embark on a career in engineering. At the age of 25, he married his long-term love Alice and the couple went on to have two sons. The family settled in Denton, Manchester, where Mr Weston had lived his whole life. In December, his wife of 54 years died in hospital after suffering from septicaemia. "Putting my father into care was not a decision we wanted to make but it became obvious that he needed some sort of care," said Mark
Don't the Poms have an RSL or other Returned Serviceman's organisation which can step in here and take up some of the load? That's just wrong on so many levels. Alzheimers, Parkinsons, medical budget or not, this old Tommy fought for his country and that country owes him a debt of gratitude. Last year I lost my own Grandfather, a WWII Digger who fought in the islands during the New Britain Campaigns from 1944 as a 17 year old. His body and mind started to shut down a few years back, and through it all our family received top notch medical care as well as massive support from the Department of Veteran's Affairs and the NSW RSL after he passed away in his sleep surrounded by family at the family home he had shared with his wife of almost 65 years. Massive organ failure is never a peaceful and serene way to go, but it was PTE Thomas Bennett's time and I guarantee he felt loved and honoured at the end. These men and women are heroes and national treasures, fighting for their mates and their respective countries against the greatest evils this world has seen in recent memory. To survive the meatgrinder of WWII just to suffer malnutrition and malpractice 60 odd years later? We all know the UK national health service is a shambles, but that's a cop out. I think Mr Weston's son Mark should harden the f*** up and sort this out with his own money if neccessary. He appears to be wingeing about the conditions, but doesn't seem to be reaching into his wallet to help make the problem go away. I wouldn't want to explain to my three kids why Grandad died if I were him. Christ, I'd mortgage the house to pay for private medical care if I were in the same boat. End rant.
I will support ABMM on this. My father had any medical and hospital treatment required. Also, my father and mother received a war service pension over and above his other pension and it was not taxable. When dad passed away, my mother received free medical/hospital treatment at the Repatriation Hospital. She was given a hip operation there at no charge. Dad has been gone 26 years yet mum now 90, still receives the full war pension that they received when dad was alive. Australian Veteran Affairs send a person to shower my mother at home and a nurse to change the dressings on her ulcerated leg. They do care about their veterans and their families.
