Patients left in pain as nurses ignore call bells

Almost one in five hospital patients is left waiting in pain because nurses are failing to respond to bedside call bells, a major report shows.

The survey of almost 80,000 patients, published by the Care Quality Commission, suggests thousands are being left in pain and discomfort because they are not receiving help when they need it.

Almost 40 per cent of those polled said there were not always enough nurses on duty. Ten per cent said there were never, or rarely, enough staff.