FEARS of a bed-shortage crisis at Llandough Hospital are growing after a patient was kicked out of his at 3am because it was needed for someone else.

The Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust admitted that the problem has become "chronic" and that new patients are facing "unacceptable delays and distress" because of so-called bed-blocking. And the Trust admitted that 208 beds are currently unavailable for new admissions because they are being used by patients who no longer need them.

Father-of-six Mohammed Khan, 50, from Cardiff, had to wait for more than 14 hours on a trolley in a crowded patient waiting room, after being turfed out of his bed at 3am to make way for someone else.

Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust apologised to Mr Khan but said his ordeal came as a result of "severe pressure" on hospitals in the region.

Mr Khan - who suffered a heart attack three years ago - was admitted to hospital after coughing up blood and complaining of chest pains.

Mr Khan said: "I want the people who run the hospital to go in there when there's a bed shortage and see how people are treated. I had great faith in the NHS but unfortunately my trust has been destroyed."

Robin Williams - a member of the Cardiff and Vale NHS Patients Panel - said: "The bed shortage situation is disgraceful. Beds have been cut to save money.

"I think there has been a shift in policy by the Cardiff and Vale Trust whereby patients are handed over to social services and care in the community as quickly as possible."

A spokesperson for the Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust said: "We are sorry Mr Khan had to wait in our Medical Assessment Unit overnight and into the following day, while we made every effort to find a ward bed for him.

"Unfortunately, this is a result of the severe pressure both of our major hospitals are currently experiencing, and it is sometimes necessary to use temporary overnight accommodation before we can find space on a ward. The main cause of the current pressure is the continuing high levels of 'Delayed Transfers of Care' in our Trust.

"We currently have 208 beds unavailable for new admissions because they are being used by patients who no longer need them - but cannot be moved until their ongoing care needs have been resolved."