by Chris Hunter

Efforts to bring a Maidstone man back home for life-saving treatment after a devastating motorbike crash in Bali were almost scuppered - by the NHS and an "email from hell."

) from Loose is now in Maidstone Hospital, where doctors are trying to help him battle MRSA and other infections he picked up in Bali, as they assess the extent of his head injuries.pictured above and right, with dad EricStill in a coma, 32-year-old Richard Plummer (

But at one point this week it looked like Richard's chances were over, when Kent and Medway PCT Cluster chief executive Ann Sutton wrote to Maidstone MP Helen Grant, explaining he was probably not eligible for treatment.

"Our first duty is to establish that a patient is entitled to NHS services before any funding can be considered," wrote the chief executive, adding that the fundamental issue was whether Richard was "ordinarily resident" in England.

The letter continued: "We checked his GP registration and found that he has not visited the surgery since December 2008. More poignantly, from the family's blog called Richard's Appeal it would appear he has been settled in Indonesia since he went there in 2009 and would be considered as "ordinarily resident" in Bali.

"I am very sorry to have to inform you that if this is the case, then Richard is not entitled to NHS treatment in England.

"I am sorry to be writing with what I know will be disappointing news for Richard's family," she added.

Mrs Grant has been a pillar of strength in organising the rescue effort for Richard, whose travel insurance had lapsed when he crashed on July 1, said the "email from hell" from the NHS was devastating at a time when the fund-raisers and rescue team seemed on the brink of success.

"It was an unnecessary nightmare and caused considerable distress to all involved," she said. "We had to put everything on hold, because I had to get a letter from the department of health saying he will be treated."

Ann Sutton, Chief Executive of NHS Kent and Medway, said: "It was really helpful to have further information from Helen Grant MP which helped us to establish that, on his arrival back in the UK, Richard would be eligible for care under the NHS.

"As soon as we had this additional information a member of our staff worked closely with the air ambulance service to arrange his safe transfer to hospital and with Maidstone and Tunbridge NHS Trust who made sure a bed was available in the Intensive Care Unit at Maidstone Hospital, close to his family.

"Richard is safely in the care of the NHS in West Kent – who will continue to provide any future care - and we hope that he will make a full recovery."