Patients given blankets as hospital heating fails

Melanie Clark said it was so cold at night it woke her up

Hospital patients were given blankets and portable heaters after the heating broke down.

Melanie Clark, 35, was admitted to Lincoln County Hospital on 17 November, and said the heating on her ward had not been working since she arrived.

She said hospital staff had put sheets and blankets across windows to stop the draught, adding that, even with "six blankets", it was "really cold".

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group (LCHG) apologised to patients affected, and said "engineers are on site" and "teams are doing everything possible to keep patients comfortable, including supplying more blankets and providing portable heaters."

According to Ms Clark, who is staying in the surgical admissions lounge, "a lot of people" had complained about the situation, but nothing had been done.

"The bay next door is worse. They've got draughts from the windows so they've used blankets and sheets to try and keep the heat in. It's really uncomfortable when you're trying to get better," she said.

"I've got six blankets – but, on a night, it's really cold to the point it wakes you up.

"No one wants to be in hospital, let alone a cold hospital," she added.

Beverley Clark said patients needed to feel comfortable and warm

Her mother Beverley Clark, 62, said the situation had been made worse by the recent cold weather.

"I'm feeling upset and disappointed. They're poorly. They want to feel comfortable, they want to be warm," she said.

"It's warmer outside than it is in," she added.

In a statement on Monday, a spokesperson for LCHG said: "We currently have an issue with the heating supply to part of the surgical admissions lounge at Lincoln County Hospital.

They added: "We would like to apologise to any patients who may have been affected by this issue but please be assured that this matter is under control and will be resolved as soon as possible."

LCHG later confirmed engineers were still working to resolve the issue.

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