A HEART patient was so shocked by the taped-up mouldy windows in Bradford Royal Infirmary's coronary unit that she took photos to shame hospital bosses into carrying out proper repairs.
Former social housing worker Glenis Hamilton, who was on Ward 22 after having a stent fitted, was so cold the night of her operation she had to ask for extra blankets to block a draught blowing through the 1930s metal type windows, sealed with dirty duct tape by DIY nurses.
MissHamilton, from Hazelcroft, Eccleshill, said: "The draught from them is unbelievable. I was sat in bed like the chief in a wigwam. There's no double-glazing. This is 2015 and we are talking about a top cardio unit."
As well as the draught and the mould, the 68-year-old said the noise from outside in the car park and from a major main road was also unbearable.
"Heart patients need to be warm and to have peace and quiet to get their rest, but it's impossible there.
"I cannot say enough good things about the level of care from the top doctors right down to the cleaning staff the care was second to none, but the windows need replacing urgently.
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"When I mentioned this to the staff they said they had been trying to get something done about it for years, and they have got as far as the planning for closing rooms so the work can be done but every time the funding is stopped.
"I would like the NHS bosses to spend a night under these windows and feel the cold. I have always been told that mould is really bad for your chest so should this be on the windows in a cardio unit?
"They have had over 70 years to change these windows so they shouldn't blame cut-backs or this or that Government - just get the job done for the health of the patient," she said.
Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said it has plans to refurbish wards, including the one Mrs Hamilton stayed on.
Chief Operating Officer, Helen Barker, said: "We are sorry to hear of Miss Hamilton’s experience on our cardiology ward and pleased to hear that her care and treatment was first class.
"The Trust has an ambitious programme to open new facilities and refurbish existing wards. Ward 22 is included within this however we can only refurbish one ward at a time as we need to maintain enough capacity to care for patients requiring admission.
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"We are currently in the middle of an extensive refurbishment of our emergency medicine department and acute medicine unit which will ensure we provide the best care we can for patients requiring urgent assessment and admission.
"This will support many patients to return home quickly following early diagnosis and treatment.
“I am pleased to report that we recently invested £2.3m in cardiology, building a new catheter lab which provides state-of-the-art facilities for our patients with heart problems."
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