UK Teacher Recovers from Stroke in Hungary After Alleged NHS Neglect

Anna Chithrakala, a 45-year-old English teacher and palliative carer from London, is making an inspiring recovery from a devastating stroke—1,100 miles from home. After suffering a severe brain bleed in December 2024 that left her unable to walk, talk, or move the right side of her body, Anna’s journey to healing has taken a surprising turn from UK hospitals to a specialized rehabilitation Centre in Hungary.

While out on a walk with a patient and a friend, Anna suddenly collapsed and lost her ability to speak. She was rushed to a hospital where doctors performed a six-hour emergency surgery. Due to system delays, it took more than five hours to get Anna into the operating theatre at Bristol Southmead Hospital—a delay her family says nearly cost her life. She was later placed in a medically induced coma after two brain surgeries.

Six weeks into her recovery, Anna was transferred to University Hospital Lewisham in London to be closer to family. However, the move became a traumatic chapter in her recovery. Anna and her family allege she faced mistreatment and neglect at the hospital, including bullying by nurses and a lack of adequate care. “It was a nightmare. I physically tried to escape,” Anna recalled, speaking with assistance from her mother and brother from her hospital in Hungary.

Her mother, Piroska Markus, a 69-year-old Hungarian national, was determined to find better care. Discovering a comprehensive rehabilitation programme at the National Medical Rehabilitation Centre in Budakeszi, Hungary, Anna’s family decided to drive her 1,100 miles across Europe in February—a journey that took two-and-a-half days.

Unlike the NHS outpatient offer of just 2.5 hours of weekly therapy for a month, the Hungarian Centre provides intensive therapy including physiotherapy, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, hydrotherapy, music therapy, and even robotics therapy—all for £500 per week. The cost is a fraction of the £5,000 quoted by private UK providers.

“The rehab culture here is completely different,” said Piroska. “Patients are encouraged to stay active, use equipment freely, and are supported in every aspect of recovery.” Anna shares a quiet room with one other person and enjoys a forest-view balcony and an accessible bathroom—amenities that contrast starkly with her experience in noisy, overcrowded UK wards.

Though Anna’s right hand and foot remain paralyzed, she is now able to walk with effort and speak in broken sentences. Her cognitive functions are gradually improving thanks to the comprehensive and compassionate care she receives in Hungary.

Anna’s family is now raising awareness about the gaps in NHS rehabilitation services and has launched a GoFundMe campaign to continue her treatment beyond June, when their funds are projected to run out. They hope her story can spark dialogue about the critical need for better stroke recovery support in the UK.

“We’ve seen firsthand how proper rehabilitation can transform lives,” said Piroska. “It’s heartbreaking to think how many people in the UK never get that chance.”

In response, a Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust spokesperson stated: “We are very sorry to hear about Ms Chithrakala's experience with us and would encourage her and her family to contact us directly so that we can open a formal investigation into their concerns.”

Despite the challenges, Anna remains hopeful and determined. “I love it here,” she said of the Hungarian Centre. “It’s a place of healing and hope.”

(Input From Various Sources)

(Rehash/Sakshi Thakar/MSM)