Terminally ill grandmother spent two days in hospital storeroom

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By Jessica Coates, Press Association

A health board has apologised after a terminally ill grandmother was left waiting in a hospital storeroom for 48 hours.

Pam Smith, who has stage four cancer, was kept in limbo after attending Royal Gwent Hospital in south Wales with a high temperature in September, she told ITV.

A spokesperson for Aneurin Bevan University Health Board said: “We are truly sorry for Mrs Smith’s experience and the distress this caused her and her family.

“Our services are caring for very high numbers of patients and are under significant pressure. However, this is not a standard of care that we accept – no patient who needs a bed should have to spend time in such uncomfortable conditions.”

The case came to light as it was revealed more than 3,500 patients a day received care in hospital corridors or makeshift treatment areas in England last month, as other figures show the NHS is already facing growing pressures before winter has arrived.