Image source, Nicky Roberts
Nicky Roberts says he had heard other patients describe the hospital as a “warzone”
A patient who was left in a hospital chair for five days has said conditions there have been likened to a warzone.
Nicky Roberts, 42, went to Morriston Hospital, Swansea, on Saturday night with severe headaches and was told he had a potentially serious condition.
But he said he was told there were no beds and has slept on a chair in a room next to A&E since being admitted.
Swansea Bay health board apologised and said with “exceptional demand, waits are much longer than we would like”.
Mr Roberts, from Swansea, said he was told he would have to stay in hospital as he had hypercalcaemia – a condition where the calcium levels in the blood are too high – which can be life-threatening in some cases.
Image source, Nicky Roberts
The first chair Mr Roberts had to sleep in at Morriston Hospital
“When I came in on Saturday night I was told the wait was 13 hours but because I was quite unwell I got seen in about three hours,” he said.
“It was OK for the first six to eight hours, but by Sunday it was quite clear there was no plan about how they were going to see all these patients.”
“It is just like a third world or war hospital in… a pavilion or tent,” he said.
Mr Roberts said there were people with “bloody injuries” and other patients who were “unwell with heart problems” also left to sleep in chairs or on the floor.
“There are people waiting for ward space, but there isn’t any,” he added.
He said: “Over the last few days I’ve heard people describing it as being in a warzone here, with people on the floor, people needing treatment and not getting it.
“At one point there was about one nurse looking after about 20 patients.
“The staff are doing their best but they’re so far stretched. If you push people that far it’s inevitable people are going to make mistakes.
“It’s been really horrible to see and experience the situation the NHS is faced with.”
Mr Roberts, an IT service manager, said he had not been told what his treatment plan was, and was worried about how long he would have to stay in hospital.
Image source, Nicky Roberts
The second “slightly comfier” chair that Mr Roberts was moved to after four days
Speaking on Wednesday, he said: “They haven’t had enough time to explain what’s wrong with me, or with anyone else here.
“I’m just overthinking what’s wrong with me, am I going to be OK? When will I be able to go home?
“On Sunday I was told they would start the treatment but it still hasn’t started.”
Mr Roberts said he slept on the same chair from Saturday to Tuesday, and was moved to another “slightly comfier” chair on Tuesday night.
“I think I had about 30 minutes sleep during the first four days. It’s been a nightmare.”
Morriston Hospital in Swansea says it is under extreme pressure
In a statement on social media on Wednesday, the health board said Morriston Hospital was “under extreme pressure with high numbers of acutely unwell patients needing treatment and beds”.
It said: “As a result, we are at our highest level of escalation – a business continuity incident.
“Staff are working extremely hard. But waits are much longer than we would like, especially for those who attend our emergency department with less serious and non-life threatening illnesses or injuries.”
It said people should not visit the emergency department “unless absolutely unavoidable” and those with minor injuries such as broken bones or dislocations should visit the minor injury unit at Neath Port Talbot Hospital.
Responding to Mr Roberts’ experience, the health board said it was “very sorry”.
A spokesperson added: “We do not want anyone waiting a long time for a bed.
“Here at Morriston Hospital we have undertaken a significant amount of work around our front door, which is designed to offer the right care to the right patient in the right setting, enabling those who can do so safely to go home sooner and, for those who need one, to be admitted to a bed as soon as possible.
“But we are currently experiencing exceptional demand which means that, despite our best efforts, waits are much longer than we would like.”
Sarah Carter is a health and wellness expert residing in the UK. With a background in healthcare, she offers evidence-based advice on fitness, nutrition, and mental well-being, promoting healthier living for readers.
