‍A paralysed woman cleared to leave hospital months ago has launched a petition for an accessible home to return to.

The 24-year-old woman was left paralysed from the waist down after a road accident in Egypt. She says she has been unable to leave hospital months after being medically cleared for discharge because she is still waiting for suitable accessible housing.

Chenai Johnson, from Haringey, has been in seven different hospitals since suffering a serious spinal injury in January 2026. She says she was medically fit to leave hospital in May, but has remained in hospital while waiting for a safe, wheelchair-accessible home to be found.

Now, with September drawing to a close, Chenai says she has been warned that she could remain in hospital until Christmas and potentially beyond.

She has launched a petition calling on Haringey Council and the services involved in her discharge to find her suitable accommodation so she can leave hospital and continue rebuilding her life.

Chenai was in Egypt as part of a year abroad when the accident happened. She had been travelling with a friend when, she says, the driver began driving erratically and speeding.

“The last thing I remember was the driver swerving,” she said.

She was later told that the car had flipped several times. Chenai suffered a T10 spinal fracture which severed her spinal cord, leaving her permanently paralysed from the waist down.

Since the accident, she has undergone extensive treatment and rehabilitation. But despite being medically fit to leave hospital since May, she says she has been unable to secure the accessible accommodation she needs to live independently and safely.

“I’m 24 years old, paralysed from the waist down, and I’ve been in seven different hospitals since my injury in January 2026,” Chenai said in her petition.

“I have been medically fit to leave since May. It is now September — so why am I still here?”

Chenai says she has completed numerous assessments, joined the housing list she was instructed to join and provided the information requested by the relevant services.

However, she claims she has repeatedly struggled to get answers from Haringey Housing and adult social care.

“My emails and calls have repeatedly gone unanswered. I’ve been passed between departments,” she said.

Chenai says her mother has also repeatedly attempted to get answers and support. She says local MPs have become involved and questions have been raised about her situation, but that she is still waiting for a solution.

“I just need help because Haringey Council are refusing to answer me and my mum,” she said. “We can’t get through to anyone, we can’t get help.”

Chenai acknowledges that housing may not be the responsibility of every service she has contacted, but says the lack of coordination between services has left her unable to move forward.

“All I keep hearing is, ‘We’re sorry you’re in hospital, we understand your situation, but that’s not our job,’” she said.

“And I understand it’s not their job, but I need help. I need to get out of hospital.”

The prolonged stay has also taken a toll on Chenai’s wellbeing. She says being medically ready to leave while remaining in hospital has been extremely difficult and that she feels as though her life is passing her by. She is also concerned about her access to rehabilitation. According to Chenai, the hospital where she is currently staying has not provided the physiotherapy and rehabilitation she needs to continue progressing. She says her mother has had to take time away from work to help support her rehabilitation.

“I’ve been here four months now and now they’re telling me I will probably be here past Christmas,” she said. “I’ve been medically fit since May. It’s now September. I want to go home.”

Chenai says she is not asking for luxury accommodation, but for a safe and accessible place where she can continue her rehabilitation and begin to regain some independence.

“I just want a place to call home,” she said. “I’m not asking for anything fancy or luxurious. All I’m asking for is a one-bedroom accessible flat that I can call home.”

She wants to be able to continue her rehabilitation, go outside, see friends and start building a life beyond hospital.

“This year has been the hardest year of my life,” she said. “I’m ready to get out in the world.”

Her petition is calling for urgent action to help her leave hospital safely.

“I don’t want sympathy. I want action,” Chenai said.

“I have waited. I have cooperated. I have followed instructions. I have chased. I have asked for help.”

“How much longer am I expected to wait?”

Chenai is now asking people to sign and share her petition in the hope that greater attention will be brought to her situation.

“I need to get out,” she said. “I need to get home. I need to start living again.”

If you’re interested in signing Chenai’s petition, click the link here: https://www.change.org/p/i-m-24-medically-fit-to-leave-hospital-so-why-has-haringey-council-left-me-to-rot-here.

The claims made by Chenai about Haringey Council’s handling of her housing and discharge arrangements have not been independently verified. Haringey Council has not yet commented publicly on Chenai’s petition.