Just two days ago ABLE2UK brought you a story about documenting how the NHS nearly refused a disabled girl a resuscitation. We have now heard of a second story which concerns another patient with a disability facing difficulties because of our appalling health service...

It's bad enough having angina, a heart disease which is caused by from a lack of blood reaching the heart. But for 69 year old Roy Colton that was only half his problem when he was taken to hospital suffering from the disease.

Mr. Colton uses an electric wheelchair, although when the ambulance men arrived to take him to Burnley General Hospital they refused to take his chair as well. During his stay Colton wasn't granted a replacement chair and because his cash was kept in his personal wheelchair he was declined to make any phonecalls from the ward's payphone.

The hospital stated that due to safety reasons wheelchairs were not permitted in ambulances, but they are not prepared to lay on any service to pick up a patients chair from their home. This must be done by a family or friend member themselves, they are now planning an alternative solution if this is not possible.

Mr. Colton expressed his feelings regarding his stay in hospital,

"It was like having no legs for ten days. They didn’t offer me a powered chair and I can’t use a normal wheelchair because I can’t use my left arm. I had to call hospital staff to take me to the toilet – even though I could have gone myself in private. The rest of the time, I was laid in bed or sat in a chair for ten days.It was terrible. I was like a prisoner, but at least prisoners get privileges."

He also complained directly to the hospital, but wasn't given an apology or any kind of reply.

Please let us know if you have had any difficulty at your local hospital, we are very happy to include name of Doctors or Nurses who you wish to bring to our attention contact us now marking your message 'NHS DISGRACE'.

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