A north-east couple claim they were forced to wait nine hours for a bed to become available during an emergency visit to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary this week.
Asthmatic Billy-Jo Monaghan was taken to the hospital by ambulance after she suffered a severe attack in the early hours of the morning.
Last night, her fiance, Martyn Davidson, said she had been put in a store room because there was no room on the wards – a claim flatly denied by NHS Grampian.
Mr Davidson said: “She arrived at ARI at about 6am on Monday and was seen at around 9am and given a gas canister and put in a store room with cardboard boxes and toiletries.
“They didn’t have a ward for her and had no beds.
“The staff were helpful enough, but there just wasn’t enough space. There was no explanation whatsoever. It was quite upsetting to be honest, she was quite distressed and upset.”
After a bed had been found for Ms Monaghan, she was kept at the hospital for two nights.
Recovering at home in New Pitsligo yesterday, she said staff had done everything in their power to look after her, but it had been a “horrible” experience.
“I just wanted to lie down, I hadn’t had sleep for the past 24 hours because I was so unwell,” she said.
“It wasn’t the staff’s fault, but there was one point at night when I asked for medicine so I could use my nebuliser and it took them 40 minutes to come. By that time I had to go onto a drip,” she added.
Last night, a spokesman for NHS Grampian defended Ms Monaghan’s treatment.
He said: “I categorically deny any patient would be treated in a ‘cupboard.’
“On admission patients are assessed in one of the bays in the department while awaiting treatment, transfer to another ward or discharge.
“The holiday period was particularly busy for the department, but we always endeavour to deal with our patients as quickly as possible to avoid extended waits. Each patient is seen according to clinical priority.”