A GREAT-GRANDMOTHER whose leg had to be amputated after an operation disaster is refusing to leave hospital until Barnet Homes gives her a suitable home.

Agnes Cullinane, 71, of Grahame Park Estate, Colindale, went in for a knee operation at the Royal Free in May but the procedure went horribly wrong when an artery was torn at the back of her right leg.

The only option was to amputate from above the knee, leaving the great-grandmother of five in a wheelchair.

Mrs Cullinane has been staying at the hospital since the operation, refusing to move back to her bungalow where she lives with her son, Tommy, 44, and his son Sean, 22.

Beth Gilmartin, 48, has left her home in Bournemouth to take care of her mother-in-law who has been going to the gym every day and is trying to walk using a prosthetic leg.

Ms Gilmartin said: “She’s a strong woman bless her - she just wants to go home but the wheelchair won’t fit through the front door, down the corridors or in the toilet.

“Barnet Homes want her to use the back door and live out of her front room with a sink and a commode.

“She won’t do that. She wants a suitable house for her needs.”

Ms Gilmartin said: “We just want to get her home so she can recover but we’re still waiting on Barnet Homes.

“Agnes is a very strong woman and she’s dealing with what’s happened to her – but the thing that’s killing her is she can’t get out and be with her family.

“It makes my heart ache when I look at her with tears in her eyes just wanting to get out.”

A statement from Royal Free said: “In line with normal trust procedures, the trust is carrying out a full investigation into the patient’s care. This happens whenever there is a rare complication with a patient’s treatment to identify contributory factors and any lessons that can be learned.

“The trust is following normal discharge procedures and working with the local council to safely discharge the patient.”

Barnet Homes manages 15,000 properties on behalf of Barnet Council. A Barnet Homes response is to come.