I ACCOMPANIED my partner Carol to the doctor on Thursday, November 12, where she was given a letter and told she must go immediately to the Swindon GWH surgical assessment unit with a view to most probably being admitted.

We arrived at 6.40pm and were asked to sit with about 15 others in the unit.

It became apparent this was a place of great suffering and misery, I didn’t understand why but this came with time.

Firstly, there was a lady who was doubled up in pain who had been promised painkillers three hours before and I witnessed her mother go again and again to reception until she was begging for pain relief for her near hysterical daughter.

An old Arabic lady who had been left on her own by her son with an overnight bag and spoke no English was sat picking at a cannula in her arm trying to pull it out.

In the end I had to tell a nurse who came over.

Periodically the old lady would stand and start using the seated people as leaning stations in order to try to get to the toilet.

It meant sick people had to help her into the toilet and wait outside the door and help her back to her seat, as no staff monitored her at all.

A very frail and sick old man was sat in a wheelchair and he had been in the unit since 8am.

He kept saying over and over “a cup of tea would be nice”, “won’t somebody bring a sandwich,” then I watched as urine trailed from him and fell on to the floor beneath the chair.

Somebody went and informed the receptionist and she came over and wiped up the spillage with wet wipes but not once did she or any professional even look or speak to the old man while this was going on.

The situation became worse for this poor man when he started saying “sorry I can’t help it” again and again and the whole waiting area filled with the most appalling smell.

At 10.30pm he was taken to a ward after 14 hours.

From about 8pm various people enquired at the desk when a doctor would come and every time somebody inquired they were told: “Oh in about 20 minutes, he is in theatre.”

At 12.45am a doctor came into the unit and saw the remaining people one by one.

Some were admitted and some, including Carol, sent home and told to return in the morning for treatment.

We finally left at 1.20am. Never before have I seen people crying out of desperation at waiting so long.

I don’t know what is to blame or whether it’s lack of money or lack of staff but this place was what I can only describe as ‘hell on earth’.

I don’t attempt to suggest a solution but one must be found. This place is failing the people sent to it.

STEVEN BLANCHARD Woodstock Road Swindon