INJURED Jane Best had to wait 12 hours in Wycombe Hospital's Accident & Emergency Department for just six stitches.

The 52-year-old was driven to the hospital at 9pm on Monday by her husband Stan after slashing her finger on a food processor blade.

"I waited such a long time, it was terrible," said Mrs Best, of Ashwells, Tylers Green.

"I couldn't believe it was happening. I went into shock after my finger was eventually stitched up because I was so tired."

The couple did not take any money with them because they thought they would not be long.

After 20 minutes, Mrs Best was seen by the triage nurse who patched up the wound temporarily and told the couple it was a three-hour wait.

Mrs Best, a domestic worker, said: "There were people sitting there since three in the afternoon and some people were just walking out. It was horrendous.

"In the end I told my husband to go home because he had work in the morning."

At 12.30am she made a reversed charge call and woke up her husband.

Mr Best, 56, explained: "She told me she was going to be there even longer. I took her reading glasses down and some money for a taxi when she was finished.

"I didn't end up speaking to her again until the next day. What is going on with the National Health Service?"

After spending the night sitting on a chair, Mrs Best was finally seen by a doctor at 8.30am on Tuesday and it took just four minutes to complete the six stitches to her finger.

She said: "When I spoke to the doctor she said the wait was because of staff shortages.

"All that money they have spent on Wycombe and Amersham hospitals. That money would have been better spent on staff."

The couple say they will be making a formal complaint.

Martin Leaver, spokesman for South Buckinghamshire NHS Trust, said yesterday that patients had come from neighbouring A&E departments on that night.

He said: "A&E at Wycombe Hospital was extremely busy on Monday night.