The shocked family of an 83-year-old breast cancer patient who had to wait on a hard chair for more than 10 hours before a bed became available say West Herts hospitals are struggling to cope under huge demand.

Allison Phillips said her mother-in-law suffered "indignity and a lack of respect" as she was directed firstly to the wrong hospital and then had to wait more than 10 hours for a bed to become available - only to finally be admitted to the stroke ward.

She said the doctors and nurses were working flat out, but there were not enough beds to accommodate everyone.

She said: "All the staff - porters to doctors - were absolutely incredible under the most appalling circumstances. It's clearly not an environment conducive to older person care."

Allison, 55, said: "We were told the situation is absolutely dire since Watford Hospital is completely overwhelmed after two hospitals have been closed in the past couple of years.

"My mother-in-law was given the last bed, completely inappropriately in a stroke ward, which was mixed. This was the only bed available.

"She came out and said there were no showers or washroom on her ward and she was given a cardboard basin full of water to wash in. There was one toilet for the ward to share.

"I am so shocked at the indignity and lack of respect for each human being that the Government's selling off and closing of hospitals has resulted in.

"This 83-year-old's generation fought the Second World War to have a health service that accords them respect."

At a pre-operation assessment earlier this month it was discovered the pensioner had high blood pressure and the family were advised to take her to her GP urgently.

An appointment was made for 6pm that day at Bushey Health Practice where the GP booked her in to see a doctor at St Albans City Hospital - but by the time the family arrived two hours later the hospital was "closed".

Allison said: "The hospital was completely closed, only a cleaning lady and a security guard were there, and we were told there was no out-of-hours doctor available.

"By this time my mother-in-law was exhausted, stressed and in tears.

"We made a phone call to Cancer Care and a kind lady advised us that we had probably been told to go to the wrong hospital.

"We then realised that the GP had misinformed us."

Another GP from Bushey Health Practice made a home visit and referred her to Watford General Hospital for more tests and an overnight stay.

Allison said her mother-in-law had to sit in a hard chair for 10 and a half hours until a bed became available in a stroke ward, there was no hot food or canteen and the family had to share two small sandwiches which the hospital staff had kindly sought out for them.

Allison has written to Conservative Parliamentary candidate for Watford, Richard Harrington, about her mother-in-law's experience with the health services.

A spokesman said West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust was unable to comment without the express permission of the patient involved. The family, however, did not want the woman's details to be revealed.

What is your experience of treatment at Watford General Hospital? Let us know if you feel your treatment was good or bad. editor@watfordobserver.co.uk