Three patients have been photographed on one drip stand at Ashford A&E, sparking an apology from health bosses.

Chiefs at the William Harvey Hospital say they have ordered more supplies following the "rare event".

One of the patients says she was shocked by the state of the department after being hooked up to the intravenous (IV) drip stand with two other people.

The woman - who wishes to remain anonymous - was sent to the William Harvey by her GP on July 6 after being diagnosed with bacterial infection peritonsillar abscess.

The patient, who arrived to find a packed waiting room, said: “It was busy at A&E but it was a Friday morning so I imagine not as busy as it can be.

“Every member of staff was doing their best to get everyone seen and with compassion.

“I was in the waiting room for about three hours with these two other patients.

“They were in and out due to their treatment needs and were disconnected from the drip so they could move.

“I think we all felt shocked that we had to share the drip stand with all our fluids and medicines hanging from it.”

The woman described the department as "horrendously cramped and bleak".

“The nurses could only access our IV sites by climbing over or under the wires as there was so many of them,” she added.

“Obviously there was no privacy or dignity with this system.

“We were all very unwell so we’re just relieved to be getting the treatment we needed.

“But I thought that it is simply not good enough and it must be very disheartening for the staff as well.

“A&E was quite calm considering and the staff manage extremely well in such difficult circumstances.

“I just don’t think it’s acceptable and demonstrates how over-stretched the A&E services are in east Kent.”

A spokeswoman for the East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the William Harvey, said: “We apologise to the patients for this rare event, which falls short of the high standards we want to provide.

“We have ordered extra drip stands for the emergency department to use if stands become in short supply in future.”

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