I don't care if I live or die (From Stroud News and Journal)

I don't care if I live or die

HUMAN time bomb George Picket is still waiting for a life-saving operation despite a national outcry and an appeal to MP David Drew.

The Stonehouse pensioner will have just three minutes to live if an aneurysm connected to his heart bursts.

Mr Picket has been living on the brink of death after a vital operation at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital was cancelled for the fifth time.

On Thursday Mr Picket, 76, was in his hospital gown ready for the operation to repair his aortic aneurysm when a nurse informed him that his operation was cancelled again.

"She told me there were no beds in intensive care," said Mr Pickett. "I got so wound up, I couldn't believe it was happening again.

Mr Pickett who was told in September that he needed the operation added: "My aneurysm is ready to burst and when it does I'll have about three minutes to live.

"It makes me feel so rough - I don't care if I live or die."

After his operation was cancelled, Mr Pickett was sent home in a taxi and he has heard nothing from the hospital since then.

A spokesman from Gloucestershire Royal NHS Trust said: "The hospital has been extremely busy during the last few days.

"The intensive care unit is currently full, however the availability of Intensive Care Unit beds can change hourly.

"With a major operation such as an aneurysm, with a patient who will need Intensive Care, we cannot begin the operation until a bed is available in the unit."

Gloucester Royal Hospital had already made headlines last week when an influx of emergency admissions lead to eight patients being treated in ambulances in freezing weather conditions outside the hospital.

The trust's spokesman added: "Mr Pickett's consultant has spoken to him about the situation and was aware that Mr Pickett was going to discharge himself from hospital last week.

"The consultant will be arranging another date for Mr Pickett's operation as soon as possible."

Mr Drew said: "This is a very difficult issue, the hospital is trying to move as soon as possible but basically the bottom line is simply that we need more hospital beds."