A 91-year-old woman suffering a severe chest infection was forced to wait 25 hours before being admitted to Southend Hospital, it was revealed today.

Wheelchair-bound Margaret Dowling also had to sit in a waiting room for nine hours before a trolley was eventually found for her.

Tory Rochford and Southend East MP Sir Teddy Taylor today demanded an inquiry as Southend Hospital said it was "very sorry".

Sir Teddy: "For an old lady of 91 to be kept waiting for all those hours is terrible and we have to get something done about it."

Miss Dowling, a resident at St George's House, in Park Terrace, Westcliff, a residential home which takes care of Sir Teddy's own mother, became ill on Monday and was taken to her GP.

Her carer Jane Smith said: "We were told to go to the hospital and we got there at 5.15pm.

"I stayed until someone took over from me at 10pm by which time she still hadn't been seen by a doctor."

Mrs Smith returned to the hospital to take over from the night carer at 7am the next day to find Miss Dowling hadn't been seen by a doctor until almost 6am.

A hospital spokesman said she was transferred to a trolley under the supervision of medical staff at 1.45am having spent almost nine hours in the waiting room in her wheelchair.

Southend Hospital confirmed Miss Dowling was seen by a doctor at 5.55am and given a bed on the department's observation ward at 7am.

She was admitted to Windsor Ward suffering a suspected chest infection at 6.30pm the same evening - almost 25 hours after arriving at the hospital.

John Croft, hospital general manager of administration and emergency services said: "I am very sorry the lady waited as long as she did in a wheelchair. We would like to ensure everyone was seen as soon as possible but it was an exceptionally busy evening."

Published Thursday, January 23, 2003

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