Essex cancer patient highlights gaps in spinal care after being left without specialist support
David Bateman, a 53-year-old father from Halstead, Essex, describes feeling 'imprisoned' in his home after becoming paralyzed from the chest down in 2023 due to a rare spinal cord tumor. Although he was treated for cancer at Colchester Hospital, Bateman alleges that medical staff ignored his spinal injury needs and failed to refer him to a specialist unit. He was given a 12-month life expectancy and left without a care package, leading to a life spent largely in bed or a chair. Bateman’s condition has since stabilized, and he now collaborates with the Spinal Injuries Association and East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust to improve patient pathways. Hospital officials acknowledge that their focus on cancer treatment may have overshadowed spinal care and have since updated protocols to better coordinate with external charities.
