Man, 59, spent four nights sleeping on CHAIR in Cardiff A&E with fast-spreading skin condition

A man with a fast-spreading skin infection spent four nights on a chair while waiting for a bed in a Cardiff A&E.

John Evans, 59, was told to go to University Hospital of Wales after a recurrence of a skin infection which required ‘serious treatments’ including IV antibiotics. 

He spent four days in the waiting room before finally being admitted to a bed.

Cardiff and Vale health board told BBC News that it had apologised to Mr Evans and was still in touch with him.

Mr Evans told BBC News: ‘I was really shocked by the conditions that the patients and staff were in.

Mr Evans spent four days in the waiting room before finally being admitted to a bed

‘There was only one toilet to use and no hot food.

‘The staff did a fantastic job and they worked really hard and they’re so caring, but they were under real pressure as well.

‘There was a sense of helplessness from the staff to the point where they had to just manage their way through a horrific situation, caring for people in this way.

‘I’d always believed that the health service was there if I needed it.

‘In this instance it was there, but only just and that was because of the staff and their professionalism.’

A health board spokesman told BBC News: ‘Our services are under extreme pressure due to a number of factors including current staff shortages and the sustained challenges coronavirus presents.

Cardiff and Vale health board told BBC News that it had apologised to Mr Evans and was still in touch with him

‘In addition, health and social care services across Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan are experiencing significant and sustained pressures which is impacting the timely discharge of patients from hospital.

‘These and other challenges are impacting on patient flow within our sites and, in turn, waiting times in our emergency unit.

‘In this instance we sincerely apologise for the delays and experience for Mr Evans, and our concerns team are in touch with him to respond directly to the concerns raised.’

The pandemic has disrupted the flow of passengers from A&E beds through to longer-term care services, meaning A&Es across the UK have had slower than usual admission times.

There are currently 1,000 beds in Welsh hospitals occupied by medically fit people who cannot secure care and thus cannot be released from A&E.

As a result, more than 8,800 patients waited more than 12 hours to be admitted to A&E in Wales during November.