17 hours Ago By Sophia Sleigh
A MUM of three who spent a record eight days being treated in a hospital corridor has described her care at the hands of NHS bosses as “disgusting and inhumane”. Traumatised Sarah Dodd spent just shy of 213 hours lying on a makeshift bed next to a disposal area for human waste as managers insisted there was no space in the main ward. 5 Traumatised Sarah Dodd spent a record eight days being treated in a hospital corridor Credit: Roland Leon Now home, she is still tormented by nightmares of being stuck in the cramped, 6ft-wide passageway beside Beech C ward at Worcestershire Royal Hospital from the early hours of February 1 till 9pm on February 9.
Former solicitor Sarah, 56, told The Sun on Sunday: “The way I was treated was disgusting and inhumane. “The hospital was so overcrowded, there were other people sleeping next to me in the corridor — I had fully grown men sleeping 3ft from my head. “It didn’t feel safe.
READ MORE ON NHS DOUBLE EXIT NHS medical chief quits in second major resignation in just nine days NURSE WIN NHS nurse wins huge payout after being left out of morning tea round by colleague “I had no privacy, with doctors and nurses constantly rushing past my bed. “One morning I woke up to find a patient with dementia, who was in her 80s, combing my hair . “The worst thing was the relentless noise.
“I was between the sluice room, where they emptied the dirty bedpans, and the drugs room. Most read in Health STEALTH KILLER Bug kills more than breast, bowel & lung cancer - symptoms to look out for HORROR OP My boy, 2, had part of bowel removed after eating magnets that 'twisted insides' SET YOUR MIND AT REST Worry about getting a good night's sleep? 8 simple tips to nod off WAHEY FEVER Shock impact hay fever has on your sex life revealed in major study “Both had heavy doors with combination locks that made an absolute racket. “I barely slept a wink.
When to use A&E - and what to do if you're unsure “I struggled to eat as my meal tray kept getting in the way and would have to be moved. “The doctors and nurses were brilliant, but the managers were a disgrace.” Last year, 16 NHS trusts left patients in corridors for two days or more, while nearly 100,000 elderly patients waited more than 12 hours on trolleys in A&E — a 25-fold increase since 2019.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting called Sarah’s ordeal “absolutely appalling”. He said: “This is a damning indictment of how our NHS has been left to deteriorate. “Our Plan for Change is about fundamental reform to rebuild the health service.
” 5 Former solicitor Sarah says she did not feel safe during her nightmare hospital ordeal Credit: Roland Leon Lib Dem Helen Morgan said: “It’s absolutely unacceptable that scenes like this are continuing to occur in Britain in the 21st century.” A poll by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine found 78 per cent of physicians provided care in a “temporary environment” such as a corridor in January. In 2017, one patient died from a cardiac arrest after a 35-hour wait at the Worcestershire Royal and a second from an aneurysm after being placed in a corridor.
I woke up to find a patient with dementia, who was in her 80s, combing my hair Sarah Dodd Last November, Care Quality Commission inspectors found that urgent and emergency services at the hospital required improvement. They said staff were caring for people in ambulances or corridors while waiting for cubicles. One disabled person spent 16 hours in a wheelchair as no bed was available.
The hospital said it was increasing the use of its same-day emergency care services to free up beds. 5 The distressing chain of events took place at the Worcestershire Royal Hospital in February Credit: Alamy 5 Nurses claimed to have raised Ms Dodd's problem repeatedly but managers could not find a solution Credit: Roland Leon Sarah’s ordeal began in November, when she developed a perforated and infected gallbladder, and had two spells in Worcestershire Royal. Then on January 31, she developed severe stomach pain and her GP told her to return to A&E.
She arrived at 6.30pm and had to wait in a packed room. After six hours — at 12.
30am on February 1 — she was admitted to the general surgery unit. She said: “They said they were at capacity so I’d have to sleep in a bed in the corridor but assured me it would be for one night. “I agreed, but one day slipped into the next and every day I’d ask, ‘When are you going to get me a room?’ ” This is a damning indictment of how our NHS has been left to deteriorate Wes Streeting, Health Secretary Sarah, who lives with Harvey, 56, also a solicitor, in Kidderminster, Worcs, is registered disabled and gave up work in 2011 owning to long-term musculoskeletal pain condition fibromyalgia.
She recalled of her wait for a spot on a ward: “The corridor was the width of two beds and people were constantly walking past me in the middle of a flu crisis. “Visitors often said, ‘Are you still here?’. “The staff seemed embarrassed.
“There were no screens to protect my privacy. “I would have to lift my top up to be examined by doctors in full view of anyone passing.” Day by day, doctors carried out tests to find the cause of Sarah’s pain.
In tears, she went on: “By day eight, I couldn’t take it any more. “I told them, ‘This is beyond a joke. People keep leaving so why can’t you find me a bed?’.
“The nurses were very apologetic. “They told me one sister had been raising my case at the staff meeting every day, but the bed managers said there was no space.” 5 Health secretary Wes Streeting has admitted Ms Dodd's NHS experience was appalling Credit: PA Thankfully, her corridor ordeal ended that night.
She added: “Three hours later, at 9pm on February 9, they found me a bed. “There were two more spare beds in that room. “I was allowed to go home on February 11 and since then I have suffered constant nightmares where I am back in the hospital corridor.
“I blame the NHS managers for what happened.” Read more on the Scottish Sun GIVE UP THE GHOST Three restaurants to close in Scots city as firm plunged into liquidation SKY'S THE LIMIT I've become the world's youngest airline captain at just 26 years old Sarah Shingler, chief nursing officer at Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “We apologise to Ms Dodd if any aspect of her care fell short of the high standards we set ourselves. “We will look into the concerns she raised and will reply to her directly with a full response.
” Sarah's diary Day one: After an agonising A&E wait, I am given a “border bed” in a corridor beside Beech C ward. Staff assure me it will only be for one night. Day two: I’ve barely slept.
The sound of banging doors is relentless. I’ve come to realise I’m lying next to a room where bedpans are emptied. Day three: Still no news on a move, although the nurses assure me they’re doing all they can.
Regular visitors have noticed I’m still here, too. Day four: I awake to find an 80-something woman with dementia brushing my hair with her fingers. A nurse takes her away.
It feels like a bad dream. Day five: Another meal interrupted when I’m asked to move my meal tray for someone to pass. I don’t mind.
It’s when it’s not returned I get upset. Day six: They have put a middle-aged man close to me. I’m sick of sharing a corridor with patients who leave after a day or so and I’m still here.
Day seven: Yet another sleepless night. The constant door banging has started to feel like torture. I wonder if I am being punished – and for what? Day eight: My mental health is at breaking point.
I demand to speak to a beds manager. After a brief stand-off, I finally get a bed on a ward..
