HEALTH and housing bosses say the homeless man camped in a wheelchair outside Charing Cross Hospital for six weeks has refused all their offers of help.
Worried passers-by have been giving Egan Phillips, 49, food and clothes amid concerns for his welfare as he remains outside the accident and emergency department.
He was discharged from the hospital seven days after surgery on his legs, but claims they remain swollen and injured and he is unable to walk.
A spokeswoman for Imperial NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, said: “The trust has provided all necessary treatment to this individual and we have been working closely with the local authorities and social services to rehouse him.
“There is no question of the trust withdrawing medical treatment: should this individual become unwell, we will and have provided the medical care he needs. In this case, the individual has recently declined an offer to be seen in our accident and emergency department.”
Mr Phillips admits doctors have tried to persuade him to go back into hospital for further treatment. But he says he ‘doesn’t trust them’ because he was discharged when he was still unfit.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council says Mr Phillips, now homeless, is the responsibility of the borough of Hounslow, where he has previously lived.
A spokesman for Hounslow said: “Mr Phillips sought our assistance in January with housing, but has refused to engage with officers who were trying to establish what support he required and could be eligible for. We would be happy to look at his case again if he would agree to work with us, but we can’t do anything without his consent.”
Mr Phillips says his troubles began three years ago when he injured himself falling.
In the intervening period he has been moved between hospitals, care homes and jail when he spent 80 days in Wormwood Scrubs for assaulting a care worker. A Canadian, Mr Phillips maintains he has received no help in finding somewhere to live.
"I have nowhere to turn and I cannot trust anyone," he said.
