PATIENTS recovering from heart attacks have been left with just one working shower and not enough functioning toilets on a ward at Southend Hospital.

People on Gordon Hopkins cardiology ward, which has 35 (checking) male and female patients, are having to wash in a basin and wait to use the toilet.

Angry relatives have complained to the hospital and the Echo about the situation which ward staff have blamed on a lack of action by maintenance.

One relative whose husband has been an inpatient for two weeks said it was disgusting.

The woman said: ”My husband is a proud man and wants some decency and self respect. He likes to shower every day but can’t. The showers have been broken for about ten days and another toilet stopped working on Wednesday.

“He has a low immune system and I worry about the health and safety of this.

“He has to wash in the sink but then people are waiting to use the toilet.

“I’m so incensed by this. It’s not the fault of the nurses who have all been brilliant, but they say they have reported it to maintenance since the beginning of November and no-one has turned up.“

The hospital told the Echo it expected the facilities to be working soon.

Sue Hardy, director of nursing at the hospital said: “Gordon Hopkins ward has four toilets and two showers in total. A plumber is currently working to repair one shower and one toilet.

“We apologise to patients for any difficulties they may have experienced.”