A 94-year-old woman was forced to wait for three days on a hospital trolley after suffering what paramedics believed was a stroke, in a case highlighting severe pressures on emergency services.
From Skydiving to Hospital Trolley
Rita Holohan, a great-grandmother of five, had recently fulfilled a bucket-list ambition by completing an indoor skydive. Days later, however, she became "light-headed, dizzy and confused".
Paramedics were called to her aid at around 9.30pm on Friday and assessed that she had likely suffered a mini-stroke. She was taken to the accident and emergency department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn, Norfolk.
A Three-Day Ordeal Without Answers
Upon arrival, Rita began a lengthy wait for a bed. She remained on a trolley in A&E for three full days before finally being transferred to a ward.
Her daughter, Beverley Pegg, who is herself a nurse, described her mother's care as "a joke". She expressed her distress and frustration at the lack of communication from the hospital.
"This time last week she was indoor skydiving, and this week lying in a hospital bed without knowing what’s wrong," Beverley said.
She detailed her futile attempts to get information: "I have tried calling seven times to get an update, only to be cut off... My last call was picked up and promptly put down again, and then the phone was engaged."
Hospital Response and Systemic Pressure
While acknowledging her professional understanding of bed pressures, Beverley Pegg condemned the standard of care, stating: "The care, or lack of care, has been terrible."
In response, the hospital's chief operating officer, Richard Parker, issued an apology for the family's concerns but could not comment on the individual case.
He stated: "We want to reassure people that patients are assessed and prioritised according to their clinical need, and our teams work hard to provide appropriate care as quickly as possible during periods of high demand."
Parker recognised that waiting is distressing and emphasised the importance of communication. He confirmed the trust is working under significant pressure and has plans to improve patient flow in urgent and emergency care.
This incident underscores the ongoing crisis facing NHS emergency departments, where even the most vulnerable patients can face dangerously long waits for admission and basic care.
