A MAN who lost both of his legs in a horror car crash has revealed that the hospital made him pay to use the mattress he slept on.

       Nick Copson suffered multiple organ failure in the head-on smash near Witton-le-Wear on the A68 in September 2018.

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       Nick Copson suffered multiple organ failure in the head-on smash in 2018 Credit: NNP 3

       Nick and his wife Nikki after he survived the shocking accident Credit: NNP

       The former chef at the police training college in Crook, Co Durham, finally left hospital in October 2019.

       He moved into a rehabilitation care home to continue his recovery and is now cared for by his wife Nikki.

       However frequent returns to hospital have been necessary after returning home.

       Nick was admitted in January, but specialist bed supplier Medstrom of Derby was boycotting James Cook University Hospital.

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       As a result, the 50-year-old was forced to pay ￡833 for a week's hire of a special mattress to help with bed sores.

       Six months have now passed since Nick paid and the father-of-one has still not been reimbursed.

       "I'm disgusted I had to pay for my own mattress inside an NHS hospital," he told MailOnline.

       "The specialist bed I must have is what the hospital has told me I need, it isn't a lifestyle choice.

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       "Then I got to hospital and found they hadn't been paying their invoices.

       "It's a big institution and it's not as if it's their own money, it's taxpayers money."

       South Tees Hospitals NHS Trust, which runs the hospital, claimed "patients are never required to pay for the hire of hospital equipment".

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       Frequent returns to hospital have been necessary after returning home Credit: NNP