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A 55-stone man who cost the NHS hundreds of thousands of pounds despite being medically fit to be discharged from hospital has finally left.

Overweight Matthew Crawford took up a four-bed bay at the King’s Mill Hospital in Sutton-in-Ashfield in October last year.

The Lincoln man, who has convictions for assaulting nurses, wouldn't be moved for 21 months.

He was costing taxpayers thousands because it included up to £7,000 a week for a rented reinforced bed.

An NHS source said at the time: ­“Everybody is sick to the back teeth with the ­situation and it’s about time it was exposed.

"There’s nothing medically wrong with Matt now but we’re powerless to get rid of him."

(Image: Lincolnshire Echo/MEN MEDIA)

But now, more than a year on, the trust has revealed he has finally moved to a “more appropriate setting” reports Lincolnshire Live .

A spokesperson for Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Trust said: “While we are not able to comment on the care of individual patients for reasons of confidentiality, we can confirm that Mr Crawford is no longer in the care of Sherwood Forest Hospitals.

“We are pleased for all concerned that he is now in a more appropriate setting.”

Mr Crawford himself confirmed he had left hospital on his Facebook page.

He previously hit back at his critics and responded to claims he was using his benefits to order takeaways from his bed.

He wrote: “If you all knew the truth you would think different.

“I've not had a takeaway for months and even before that, I would have one every couple of weeks.

“The only food my mum brings in for me is some haslet and pickle cobs which I have instead of a hospital dinner.

(Image: Lincolnshire Echo)

“I was originally admitted I was seriously ill with sepsis and I took a lot of persuading for them to take me to hospital.

“Social services didn't do anything to help find me a placement for nearly three months until the hospitals legal team got involved.”

Crawford has also revealed he is using Slimming World.