Airedale General Hospital bosses have promised to address the concerns of a family of a cancer patient who have complained about his treatment.

The family say he had to endure 12 hours of agony in accident and emergency after breaking his back in a fall at his home in Moorview Way, Skipton. before he was given appropriate pain relief.

Peter Head, who has a terminal brain tumour, was in agony and his wife Trish sat at his side after arriving at the hospital at 6pm on December 23.

When he was eventually seen by a doctor four hours later, she was unable to turn the 66-year-old to examine his injury properly.

Mrs Head said: “About 3am I pleaded with them to do something. I was crying – beside myself with worry – I thought he was going to die and it would be the end. A terminally-ill patient shouldn’t have to go through that ordeal. It was horrendous.”

Late on Christmas Eve arrangements made for him to be taken to Manorlands Hospice at Oxenhope, near Keighley, the next morning.

The family say they are not critical of staff but that there were not enough staff on duty to deal effectively with patients like Mr Head.

Airedale director of nursing Rob Dearden said: “We regret that the gentleman and his family were unhappy with his care and would like the opportunity to discuss this with them and would ask them to get in touch with us through our Patient Advice and Liaison Service.”