NHS beds crisis 'a disgrace' rages Wes Streeting after pictures emerge of terminally ill cancer patient forced to sleep on the floor in A&E Madeleine Butcher, 62, was diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer in 2022 Despite suffering suspected sepsis she was forced to wait on an A&E floor By Darren Boyle and Rebecca Whittaker For Mailonline Published: 16:33, 30 June 2024 | Updated: 08:21, 1 July 2024 e-mail 53 shares 184 View comments A shocking picture shows a terminally ill woman forced to sleep on a hospital floor due to a lack of beds. Madeleine Butcher, 62, was taken to hospital at around 3am on Sunday by husband John, 61, and was told she was likely suffering from sepsis . Despite the prognosis, Madeleine - who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2022 - was told she would have to wait in A&E for potentially 36 hours.
She explained that sitting down for any longer was uncomfortable due to a hernia from her hysterectomy and the position of her tumour. But despite asking if there was a bed, trolley or even a reclining chair she could use, she was told nothing was available. Madeleine Butcher, 62, who has terminal cancer was forced to lie on a floor in A&E while awaiting treatment for a possible sepsis infection as she was too uncomfortable to sit on a chair in the unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital John Butler, 61, pictured with his wife, Madeleine, 61, took a photograph of his wife on the floor as he was so outraged by her treatment.
He said it took nurses 30 minutes to s.