Scarborough Hospital patient sleeps in car due to bed shortage

A antheral suffering from appendicitis has said helium slept successful his car extracurricular a infirmary owed to a furniture shortage.

Michael Woodcock, from Harrogate, said the alternate was trying to slumber successful a seat successful a crowded waiting country astatine Scarborough Hospital's A&E department.

He said helium was provided with blankets by nurses.

York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said it was experiencing "the worst pressures connected exigency services successful our history".

Mr Woodcock was astatine pains to constituent retired that helium did not blasted clinicians for the situation, adding helium had nary complaints astir post-surgery attraction received, which included yet being fixed his ain country disconnected the ward.

He and his household had been enjoying Christmas successful Whitby, but erstwhile helium began experiencing terrible tummy pains helium was advised by wellness professionals to spell to A&E, which helium did connected 27 December.

Mr Woodcock said helium was triaged "fairly quickly" but past had to hold astir 8 hours to beryllium seen by a doctor.

He said: "The infirmary was truly busy. There were beds connected the sides of corridors and tons of frustrated radical successful the waiting room."

A scan aboriginal confirmed acute appendicitis, requiring an urgent operation. Due to the hazard of it bursting, Mr Woodcock was told helium would request to enactment successful infirmary overnight.

He said: "There were nary beds. I ended up getting immoderate blankets and sleeping successful the car for a fewer hours earlier heading backmost to the infirmary successful the greeting for the operation."

In a statement, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the hospital, said: "Like hospitals crossed the country, our exigency departments are nether terrible strain and successful the past mates of days we person experienced the worst pressures connected exigency services successful our history.

"Increased unit lack and precocious numbers of patients waiting to beryllium discharged who nary longer request to beryllium successful infirmary person had an interaction connected our exigency departments, resulting successful patients waiting overmuch longer for beds to go available.

"We recognise this means galore patients volition walk a agelong clip successful the exigency section earlier they are admitted to a ward, and we are atrocious for this. Our unit are moving exceptionally hard successful the astir hard of circumstances."

Ashley Green, main enforcement of watchdog Healthwatch North Yorkshire, said Mr Woodcock's acquisition was "very concerning".

He added: "No diligent should person to spell done what Michael has. Such a idiosyncratic acquisition reiterates the pressures that the NHS and hospitals crossed North Yorkshire are facing this winter, which are further exacerbated by caller cases of Covid-19 and flu, alongside backlogs successful treatment, acceptable against the continuing workforce situation successful wellness and societal care.

"We proceed to item the urgent request for accrued staffing, backing and resources crossed the NHS."