A SERIOUSLY ill woman who was admitted to Inverclyde Royal with pneumonia and on oxygen has told how she had to wait TWO DAYS to get onto a ward amid a bed shortage crisis at the hospital.

Greenock Telegraph:

Outraged Gillian Lynch, 41, says she was left in A&E overnight, then later placed in a makeshift ward in the day surgery — along with another three patients — as staff struggled to cope.

Terrified Ms Lynch, who can't breath on her own, told the Telegraph that she was left on a trolley for hours during her ordeal.

Her experience comes as whistleblowers at the hospital have raised serious concerns about a reduction in staffing levels across all wards which they say putting patients at risk and pushing staff to 'breaking point'.

Mum-of-two Ms Lynch — who remains within IRH — said: "It is absolutely terrible what is going on in here. It's actually unbelievable that this can happen. I am in agony.

"It's a shambles and needs to be addressed. Don't get me wrong, the staff are great but it is a nightmare.

"I am now on oxygen and I still can't come off it and breathe on my own.

"When I was admitted on Saturday they didn't have a bed for me. I was on a trolley until one o'clock in the morning.

"Then I was put in a room beside the entrance for the ambulances. The doors were opening, the wind was howling in and I was freezing.

Greenock Telegraph:

"Finally on Sunday morning at 8am they put us into a makeshift ward in the day surgery. There are four of us, and two men in other rooms.

"They just told us there were no beds.

"They managed to get two bank nurses in to cover. In two days I saw a doctor once at 7pm on the Saturday night."

Ms Lynch added: "I have not had proper pain relief and I feel like we just are not getting the care and attention we need.

"There are no facilities to shower. I haven't been able to get washed since I got in here."

Ms Lynch, who suffers from fibromyalgia, had been feeling unwell for weeks and was referred to the IRH for an X-ray.

She said: "But it was getting worse. I couldn't wait until Monday, I went to A&E on Saturday because I was in too much pain.

"I was rushed through A&E because it was chest pain, and it was so bad and they told me I had pneumonia.

But I just wanted treated and to go home, I have two children who need me, six year old Aria and three year old Scot who has Downs Syndrome.

"My husband Scot and my family are worried sick, my family are disgusted.

"Something needs to be done about this, they need to take action."

Ms Lynch was finally moved to ward J North yesterday.

The Telegraph has also been contacted by by concerned staff within the hospital who claim that staffing levels have been reduced across all medical wards in the IRH as a result of 'an error calculating budgets across the health board area'.

One source said: "As a result of these cuts patients are being put at risk as there is not enough staff to carry out the duties required to keep them safe.

"Patients will now also be at a higher risk of falling due to the decreased number of staff to answer alarms."

Another hospital insider said: "NHS have given no consideration to the mental health of staff and the additional pressures being placed on them.

"Staff of all levels feel pushed to the limit and at breaking point."

An NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde spokesperson said: "Traditionally November, December and January are extremely busy months, but this year the pressure has begun building earlier than expected, and staff at all our sites are facing considerable challenges. We would like to apologise to anyone who has had to wait longer than they would have expected, or who has experienced any anxiety as a result.

"All our staff are working extremely hard to address these challenges, and we would like to thank them for their continuing professionalism and commitment. 

"We actively work with our Clyde hospitals to ensure that we have the right mix of staff to meet requirements and have recently welcomed newly qualified nurses to the team. In addition, we look forward to welcoming international nurses over the coming weeks. However, we would also appeal to members of the public to do what they can to help ease those pressures by thinking carefully about the best ways to access care if they need it:

"For a range of self-help services, or to find out more about minor ailments and injuries from the comfort of your own home, you can go to NHS Inform.

"Remember the help available in your local community. Your GP surgery, pharmacy or optician offer a range of care and prescribing services.

"If you think your condition is urgent, call NHS 24 on 111 to access our Virtual A&E, or Flow Navigation Centre. There you will receive expert advice about how best to get the care you need.

"We would still like to stress that anyone with a very urgent or life-threatening condition or injury should continue to call 999 or attend an emergency department as normal."