Pensioner awaits broken leg treatment

Eileen Graham waits for an operation for her broken leg

A 76-year-old woman with a broken leg has been waiting four days for an operation to fix it.

Despite an expert recommendation that no-one should wait any longer than 24 hours for such treatment, Eileen Graham has been laid up for 100 hours in Craigavon Hospital.

Mrs Graham is waiting for a bed to become available at Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital so she can get the necessary treatment.

Since then she has been given regular doses of painkillers.

"I think I should have been away by now down to the Royal."

She said it could be very painful when she went to move in the bed.

A spokesperson for the RVH said there was nothing unusual about Mrs Graham's case.

According to the hospital, other people were ahead of her in the waiting list and she would be treated as soon as a bed became available.

Two weeks ago the RVH were taking in patients straight away - but there had been almost double the normal number of people joining the waiting list over the weekend, it was confirmed.

Crisis

The hospital said they needed more surgeons - and more beds.

Mrs Graham's wait has angered some politicians.

"We're in a crisis again in the month of August," said Cllr Vincent Currie.

"Worse still, what are they going to do this winter, if they're short of beds in the month of August, what are they going to do this winter season."

According to the Department of Health, a number of surgeons had been appointed since a crisis in orthopaedics in the province 18 months ago.

But a spokesman admitted it had not been enough and added it would be years before others could be trained to meet the shortfall.