A tearful Bradford pensioner suffering from a stroke was left for nine hours on a trolley in Bradford Royal Infirmary's casualty unit.

Iris Wright, 67, was rushed to hospital with a suspected heart attack but was left distressed and confused lying on a trolley because hospital staff could not find her a bed.

It wasn't until nearly nine hours later when Mrs Wright's family decided to pay to get her admitted to a private ward that she was found a bed.

Her son John, of Wyke, said he was shocked by the traumatic episode.

"She was crying a lot and a couple of times when she managed to get some words out she said she didn't think she was going to be leaving the department," said Mr Wright.

Mr Wright has now demanded action to prevent similar ordeals for patients in future. Casualty staff quickly diagnosed Mrs Wright had suffered a stroke but there was no bed available and she was left in a treatment room for more than two hours.

She was then moved into a corridor and told a bed would soon be free in an assessment ward. But despite other patients being moved, she was still left waiting and was forced to watch as seriously ill and injured patients were wheeled in and out. Mr Wright said she was moved back into the treatment room to try to get some peace and quiet but not until the family decided to pay to get her admitted to a private ward was she finally found a bed.

"When we went up to the ward we could not help but notice that at least five beds were empty. How do you think this made us feel seeing this and knowing how long our mother had been left waiting?" he said.

A hospital spokesman said an investigation into the treatment of Mrs Wright was underway and a full explanation would be given to the family.

"We very much regret any distress suffered by this patients and her family on her admission. Our staff strive to provide the best possible care to patients at all times, despite often facing considerable pressures," he said.

"On the rare occasions when the quality of care is not felt to be of as high a standards as it should be, we are obviously concerned."

But Mr Wright said his mother's treatment broke Patient Charter standards and he wanted action to make sure it was not repeated.

Staff in casualty were as helpful as they could be as they dealt with other patients but managers had been slow to respond, he said.

Mrs Wright, also of Wyke, is now recovering in St Luke's Hospital after the traumatic episode last Monday.

She is disabled down her left side but is expected to make a full recovery.

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