A sick 83-year-old man was left "upset and disturbed" after being told he could not be admitted to hospital for tests - despite having an appointment, writes Victoria Owen.

Osteoporosis sufferer Rolston Williams had packed for his stay at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, earlier this week when health chiefs called to say he could not go in.

Mr Williams's situation comes after the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust revealed it had shut 61 beds at the JR due to the nursing shortage crisis - making it difficult for managers to cope with emergency admissions and referrals. Mr Williams, a former factory worker and well-known church lay reader, had been suffering repeated stomach upsets and is still waiting for the results of a scan and blood tests. He was angry to be left at home in Harold White Close, Risinghurst, without any idea when he would be called to the ward.

He said: "They didn't tell me why I could not come in and they haven't re-scheduled it either. No wonder the elderly are suffering and dying.

"I live on my own and I am not feeling well at all. I am still having difficulty keeping my food down and no-one seems to care. They don't know what's wrong with me." Grandfather Mr Williams said his situation meant he had lost some of his independence.

He said: "It's very upsetting and disturbing for me. I try to be independent and do my own cooking and washing, because I hate to be a nuisance to people.

"I am usually quite positive about things, but unfortunately I can't be like that at the moment." Megan Turmezei, the trust's spokesman, said: "It's very regrettable if someone's appointment is cancelled having made all their arrangements, but it's likely that there wasn't a bed available due to the huge emergency admissions and bed closure pressures.

"We obviously try to get such cases in as soon as possible and apologise for any inconvenience the delay may have caused."

Story date: Friday 17 December

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