A BRICKET WOOD pensioner suffering from a fractured spine and pelvis has finally been transferred to a specialist unit after spending almost a month lying in a bed awaiting treatment at Watford General Hospital.

Mr John Drinkwater, of Ash Copse, was moved to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore for treatment last Thursday morning – the same day The Watford Observer ran a front page story about his plight.

Last month the active 67-year-old was painting a friend's bungalow when he fell off his ladder, breaking his pelvis and a vertebra in his back.

He was taken to Watford General Hospital, which does not have specialist facilities for treating spinal injuries.

On hearing the news about Mr Drinkwater's transfer wife Margaret, 62, said: "I'd just popped out to the shops and when I came back home there was a message from the hospital on the answer machine to say they'd found him a bed."

Mrs Drinkwater followed her husband up to Stanmore Hospital on Thursday morning.

He had more X-rays on Friday and a CT scan on Saturday.

His consultant decided not to operate.

Instead of an operation, his broken back will be left to heal naturally with the help of a special corset-like cast. "John is so pleased. I think he's a lot happier because he can finally sit up and see the rest of the world.

"He can even read the papers now, which he couldn't do before.

"It's great that things are finally moving and that he's finally getting the treatment he needs.

He's so much happier than he was. Hopefully he'll be back on his feet soon."