An angry husband claims he was left in the dark after his wife suffered a suspected stroke.

Richard Saward, 69, of New Moor Close, Southminster said his wife Edna, 67, was taken from St Peters Hospital to Broomfield Hospital last Wednesday and sat in A&E for hours before doctors saw her.

Mrs Saward had been at St Peters Hospital, without her husband, when a doctor thought she was having a stroke at 1pm.

She was taken to Broomfield and was not seen by staff for at least another four hours.

Mr Saward said: “Why take so long with someone who has been sent for suffering a suspected stroke?

“Time is of the essence.”

Mr Saward, who has mobility issues, said his wife has several medical conditions leaving her with slurred speech and confusion.

He claims hospital staff upset his family when one doctor allegedly told them last Wednesday that Mrs Saward had had a stroke.

When her son arrived at the hospital on Thursday he was told she had not.

A Mid Essex Hospitals Services NHS Trust spokesman said: “Mid Essex Hospitals takes pride in providing excellent healthcare to all of its patients and we do need to know of any instances where the level of care or patient experience is not up to the standards expected, so we can look into the reasons why this has happened.

“Mr Saward did call the hospital with his concerns and was directed to our Patient and Advice Liaison Service (PALS) department, where he was advised of the process in registering a complaint and said he would submit his concerns fully in writing."