Paul O’Grady says a hospital failed to treat his sister for a heart attack over an entire weekend.

The TV presenter and comedian, who lives in Aldington, says that Sheila Rudd, 74, was brought in on Friday, March 11, but was not seen by a doctor until the following Monday.

Mr O’Grady, 60, spoke out while appearing at a north London theatre.

Mr O’Grady reportedly said: “I’m not blaming that hospital in Chester – but I am blaming the lack of funding.

“I blame this government. They’re run­­ning the NHS down.

“It was a Friday and no one saw her till the Monday because it was a weekend.”

He reportedly also said that another woman was brought in with Norovirus and infected the whole ward, which had to be closed off.

He said that heart attacks were common in his family and he said he also told his sister: “You lie there and kick off. Remember the family honour. Don’t give them any peace.”

Ms Rudd was taken into the Countess of Chester Hospital in Chester. The family are from nearby Birkenhead.

Mr O’Grady made his comments while appearing at the Hampstead Theatre Festival on Friday to discuss the fourth volume of his biography, Open the Cage, Murphy.

The comic shot to fame as the drag character Lily Savage and later presented TV shows as himself, such as The Paul O’Grady Show.