Funds are desperately needed for a woman who remains in a critical condition in a hospital abroad.

The family of Barbara Finch-Turner, from Swancombe, are reaching out to family and friends to help pay for her nursing care until she is able to leave hospital in Crete and return to England.

Mrs Finch-Turner, 79, and husband John, 80, moved to the Greek island more than 10 years ago, but the couple were planning on returning to England this year before coronavirus restrictions forced them to delay plans.

Having suffered for some years with a slow developing form of multiple sclerosis, Mrs Finch-Turner's condition has recently deteriorated and the family need funds to pay for nursing care, which is not available for free in Crete.

Daughter Elizabeth has set up a GoFundMe page, writing: "Our beautiful Mum, Barbara Finch-Turner is in hospital in Rethymnon, Crete.

"Her condition is critical and in the current crisis we are unable to go and be there with her and Dad.

"Dad is unwell himself and is having to watch his beautiful wife fade on his own.

"To make things worse, nursing care in Crete isn't covered by the European Health Insurance Card and so Dad is having to raise €180 a DAY! Plus a further €60 - 80 a day in travel costs.

"We managed to cover it last week and some wonderful friends have covered it for him this week, but going forward we just don't have the money.

"Over the years mum has helped so many people, whether financially, medically or mentally and I am asking everyone who has ever been helped, loved, liked or even just met Mum, if they can put a little into the pot to help us out. I know in this current crisis no one has a lot to spare but right now every penny counts.

"Thank you. John, Richard, Libby and Emma."

On Wednesday the site had raised £5,244 of a £10,000 goal.

Son Richard said many people from north Kent would know his parents, as his dad was from Dartford and the couple had lived in Swanscombe and Greenhithe.

And he said many friends had come forward despite not seeing the couple in many years, as they remembered times when his mum had helped them out.

"The coronavirus situation has made it very difficult, he explained. "The people taking my dad to see her can't go in with him.

"It's an impossible situation for us not being able to get there – that's why we were contacted by our friends.

"They've got great doctors but nursing care isn't provided – they have to pay for that.

"When they were healthy it was fine. It's hard being away from your parents but we were in regular contact. Having this situation on top of Covid, you couldn't make it up, and then finding out that nursing has to be paid for."

He said the family was hopeful his mum would make a recovery, but it was hard to get clear information on the situation.

"It's absolutely heartbreaking the fact they're so far away," he added.

Click here to visit the fundraising page and donate.

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