A SEVENOAKS war veteran with Alzheimer's disease has won back more than £250,000 in wrongly paid nursing home fees.

Leslie Terry's life changed dramatically when he collapsed at his home in Bosville Drive in October 2002 suffering with severe phemphigoid, a skin disease.

He was admitted to Kent and Sussex Hospital in Tunbridge Wells, but was later transferred to Sevenoaks Hospital, where he had worked for 40 years.

His family was told he could not return home.

Immobile

He was then admitted to the Gloucester House Nursing Home in Sevenoaks in December 2002.

Mr Terry's Alzheimer's disease and dementia mean he is agitated, totally confused and disorientated in time and place.

The 86-year-old is immobile and has been bedridden for more than four years. He is also at risk of choking and unable to speak.

His family, helped by law firm Hugh James, had to prove he had health needs which meant he was entitled to NHS Continuing Healthcare and did not have to pay an average of £3,500 per month for his long-term nursing care.

The NHS is responsible for and fully funds care. It mainly affects very ill patients, often elderly, in nursing homes. It can also apply if a person is in hospital long-term or needs nursing care at home.

Bryan Talbot, Mr Terry's nephew and a registered attorney, said: "My uncle has received first-class care at Gloucester House. However, I was never aware of the possibility that my uncle could have his fees paid by the NHS.

"In 2008 I found out about Continuing Care and I immediately took steps.

"My solicitors asked for a full assessment.

"I felt it was clear that my uncle's health needs meant that he should be the responsibility of the NHS.

"I am amazed that despite my uncle having annual assessments, the NHS did not inform me about available funding and it's important that people take advice."

Lisa Morgan, an associate at Hugh James, said: "It is disappointing families are still being wrongly charged for nursing care, and in many cases they are forced to sell their family home to pay."

"Mr Terry was regularly assessed by the NHS. However, they failed to find him eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare.

"The family was not aware that fees could be paid by the NHS."

She added the firm had recovered more than nine million pounds in nursing home fees on behalf of our clients.

Under current Government policy, there should be a full assessment on health needs, which determines whether patients pay for their nursing care fees.

The cost of nursing homes averages £675 per week, families are left with huge fees to pay.