AN investigation has been launched at Papworth Hospital after an elderly man recovering from major heart surgery fell out of a window. Staff in an adjacent building at the world-renowned hospital, near Huntingdon, looked on in horror as grandfather-of-se

AN investigation has been launched at Papworth Hospital after an elderly man recovering from major heart surgery fell out of a window.

Staff in an adjacent building at the world-renowned hospital, near Huntingdon, looked on in horror as grandfather-of-seven Troy Conway fell 20-feet to the ground shattering several bones.

Mr Conway, aged 79, who lives in sheltered accommodation in Bedford, broke his ankle, pelvis, leg and back and suffered severe bruising from the fall on September 17 - just three days after his heart surgery.

His son, Glen, from Haddenham, said that his father, who was on strong pain-killers had been confused in the days leading up to the incident.

"I am still amazed that he managed to survive the fall and didn't burst his stitches, he said.

"He was in a confused state before the fall, which you would expect; he had undergone major surgery and was taking strong painkillers which is traumatic for anyone let alone someone of his age."

Mr Conway said he was angry that his father had been allowed to wander around the hospital and also that he was able to open the window wide enough to climb out.

"I am absolutely happy with the medical care my father received but there must be standard risk assessments in place in a hospital ward and I need to know whether these were adhered to."

Mr Conway says his father is an active man who enjoyed living independently before the operation and he has some concerns about his recovery and whether he will be able to walk again. After the fall My Conway (senior) was rushed to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge and had to wait five days for surgery for his injuries as there was a shortage of intensive care beds.

Mr Conway says he is unhappy that his father had to wait so long for a critical care bed at Addenbrooke's.

"My father has undergone heart surgery and then falls out of a window and then he has to wait five days - on high doses of painkillers - for the right bed to become available. This was a frail old man with serious injuries and it seemed that there was no trigger point in the system to clear the back log of beds and make sure my father was treated as a priority."

A spokeswoman for Papworth Hospital said: "The safety and care of our patients is of the highest importance to us and we have launched a full investigation."

Mr Conway has been told that results of the investigation will be known at the end of this month. A spokesman for Addenbrooke's Hospital said: "Senior anaesthetists decide which patients are most in need of intensive care beds and allocate them accordingly. All patients are reviewed on a daily basis."