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Cyclist plea for NHS brain injury patient

Stuart Whincup & Jonny Manning
BBC News, North East and Cumbria
BBC Richard Mc Mann is sitting on his sofa at home. He has brown curly hair and is wearing a brown shirt.BBC
Richard McMann, who was injured in a bike crash, says he needed more from the NHS than he received

A cyclist who suffered a brain injury in a crash has said his "darkest, scariest time" was when he was discharged from hospital.

Richard McMann was in a coma and spent 11 weeks at James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, but said after he was discharged he went four months without the he needed.

Last month, Labour MP for Middlesbrough and Thornaby East Andy McDonald told the prime minister he was concerned there was a "chronic shortage" of beds at the hospital for people with brain injuries.

Consultant neuropsychologist Dr Jenna Moffitt said the hospital does not have the funding to provide community neurorehabilitation care once patients were discharged.

After he left hospital, Mr McMann said he felt his condition was getting worse.

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