THE relative of an elderly patient has slammed "disruptive" refurbishment work at a ward on the Worcestershire Royal Hospital site.

The relative, who wishes to remain anonymous, said the work at the Cedar Ward at Aconbury East, part of the Worcestershire Royal site in Newtown Road, was causing disruption to the elderly patients in the ward and the staff treating them.

He said the refurbishment started two weeks ago as workers gave the ward a new coat of paint, replaced bathrooms and toilets and knocked down a wall as part of the revamp.

The ward is part of the old Newtown Hospital, finished in 1976, not the main part of the new hospital, built in 2002.

He also said all the bathrooms and shower rooms had been locked up while the refurbishment took place and that patients were being washed by the side of their beds as a result.

He added: "There's dust everywhere. It's not fair and it's causing disruption to the patients. Apparently the building work is going on until the end of March. The nurses at that hospital are absolute gold. It's not fair for them either. They're already under so much pressure.

"I'm absolutely outraged and appalled. There are people 80, 90 and even 100 years old on that ward and they have all paid their taxes.

"It's heart-breaking to see people being looked after in such an environment."

The man also said he believed there was a ward over the Cedar Ward that was closed down about 12 months ago which he believes should have been used to accommodate the patients while the work was going on.

Worcestershire Acute Hospital NHS Trust declined to comment on whether there was another ward the patients could have been moved to.

As spokesman said: "We are working hard on improvements to the patient bathrooms on Cedar Ward. This work is for the benefit of all patients on the ward and we hope they will appreciate the improved facilities.

"We have made sure all patients, and their families, are given information about the work which is being done, and the ward Matron is always happy to talk to patients or their families and answer any questions they might have about the refurbishment."