AN Exeter woman has spoken out over her treatment at Bowral Hospital - labeling it as disgusting - after she broke a small bone in her left leg.

Janet Laverty, from Ellsmore Road, Exeter, was at pains to point out that she had no gripe with the doctors - who she described as excellent, but was angry at the lack of attention she received from nursing staff on duty.

She claims she was not once offered anything to eat or drink at the hospital and was forced to wait nearly all day for crutches because the hospital did not have a splint her size.

And to add further insult to injury, she was asked for her crutches back when she was transferred to the private hospital, forcing her to later hire a pair from a local pharmacy.

After admitting herself to the hospital late morning around three weeks ago, Mrs Laverty said she was soon sent to the x-ray department for a scan, which revealed the tiny break.

“I was told that I needed a splint but there wasn’t a splint big enough for me, they were all too big as I’m only 4ft 8ins tall.

“It made me wonder what they would have done if I was a child?

“Also, my biggest complaint is not one nurse came near me all day and it was eventually left to me to ask for a glass of water that afternoon.”

Mrs Laverty says it was only later in the afternoon when she revealed she was a private patient that she was moved to Bowral Private Hospital, adding that no one had thought to ask her that question when she arrived.

“I would have to say that I was disgusted by the treatment I received and I’ve always been on the side of nurses in the past.

“No one asked me if I was a private patient when I arrived and I would have to say there was a general lack of compassion shown by the nursing staff, many of whom seemed disinterested in my welfare”.

Amanda Larkin, general manager of the hospital, said she would note the complaint but has so far declined to comment on Mrs Laverty’s case.