A PATIENT'S experience in hospital has highlighted the pressures nurses in North Wales’ hospitals are under.

The man, in his 50s, was admitted to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd this month.

During a recent eight-day spell in hospital, he alleges, on one occasion, he saw a nurse asleep on the ward during the early hours of the morning.

The man, who the Journal has chosen not to name, said: "The nurse fell asleep in a chair in the early hours of the morning at about 4am.

“I tapped the nurse to wake them but they denied being asleep.”

He added: "I know there’s a lot of pressure on the NHS, and they (nurses) all get overloaded and work so many long shifts.

“There were at least two other nurses on the ward with this nurse but as far as I’m aware, none of them seemed to see the nurse fall asleep."

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In response, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) urged the patient to contact the authority directly so that his concerns can be investigated further.

Jane Woollard, integrated health community director of nursing for the central area of BCUHB, said: “We are very sorry to hear the patient was unhappy with his care during his time with us.

“We would encourage him to contact us directly so that we can look into his concerns.”

Mair Roberts, who co-founded “Alex Angels”, a group of healthcare professionals who started their careers at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, Rhyl campaigning to have beds reinstated there, expressed her sympathies for Glan Clwyd staff.

Mrs Roberts, who worked at Glan Clwyd from when it opened in 1980 until she retired in 2004, said more support is needed in terms of numbers.

She said: “The nursing staff at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd are doing the best they can; they are short-staffed, and the shortfall is made up with agency staff. Many nurses are doing extra shifts and are tired.

“I was an inpatient on a surgical ward in February for a week; the staff worked so hard, at times not getting their breaks and unable to give the care needed. The did their best.

“My husband was recently admitted as an emergency. The ambulance staff were excellent, and the staff in A&E, resuscitation services, the Acute Medical Unit and Ward 11 all did their best under such pressures.

“Until they increase bed capacity in the community, provide more social care support, and employ more nursing staff, the extreme pressures will not reduce and patient care will suffer.

“The recruitment process needs looking at, as it can take months for a new employee to take up post from date of interview and acceptance of a job offer. It didn’t take that long when I was a clinical nurse manager.

“Let’s stop all the negativity and focus on the good things they are trying to do to improve things at Glan Clwyd, a hospital I was proud to work in. It must be demoralising for staff to hear constant negativity.”