England rugby star Olly Barkley has criticised his NHS treatment after waiting 40 minutes for pain relief when he broke his leg in two places during a Premiership match.
The Bath fly-half, 29, shattered his fibula and tibia during the Aviva Premiership clash with Gloucester – leaving the pitch clasping an oxygen mask to his face.
He was rushed to the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in Gloucester but had to wait in agony before receiving morphine.
The England international was then moved to a gastro ward because of a shortage of beds – where he was subjected to a barrage of FARTS from fellow patients.
He even posted a picture of them on his Twitter page and told his 8,419 followers that he was woken up at 4am by their flatulence.
Barkley wrote on Sunday: ”As a result of a shortage in space I’m in the gastric intestinal ward.
”Could have done without the 40 minute wait for morph (sic) last night.
”NHS – work in progress.”
The stricken star fended off criticism from other users of the social network that his claims against the NHS were ”unfair”.
User John-Oliver Dunn said: ”The NHS isn’t perfect but provides an incredible service. Think of how many people you didn’t have to pay to fix your leg.”
But Barkley countered: ”They’re up against it through no fault of their own but a 40 minute wait for extreme pain relief would suggest work in progress.”
The former Gloucester player – who has racked up 23 caps and 82 points for England – underwent immediate surgery on his shattered leg after the double break on Saturday.
It was Barkley’s first match back at Kingsholm, Gloucester, since his one-season stint with the club in 2008/09.
And it was also the second time the star had suffered injury heartache, after breaking the same left leg during 2009 pre-season training in Portugal.
Doctors at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital inserted a metal rod through his tibia on the weekend and Barkley was sent to the gastro-intestinal ward to recover.
Despite criticising his treatment, the kicker called nurses at the hospital ”stars”.
But he was clearly delighted to be moved to the private CircleBath Hospital in Peasedown, Bath, on Monday – and couldn’t resist poking fun at the patients in his former ward.
He said on Twitter: ”My alarm clock at 4am this morning was Ron’s symphony le flatch.
”En route to the circle hospital Peasedown for some decent food and a room without guys farting the alphabet.”
The cheeky star also uploaded a picture of his former bedfellows on the gastro-intestinal ward.
The snap, which showed bed-ridden patients, was captioned: ”It’s kicking off in here, me and the lads are going for it…..”
A spokesman for Gloucestershire Royal Hospital said yesterday: ”The NHS is committed to providing high-quality and safe care for its patients.
”It is disappointed to hear that Mr Barkley is unhappy with the care he has recieved.”
Of course, he could always pay for the cost of the surgical treatment he received for free.
how could a rugby player be this big of a pussy?
Lol wow, whiny little baby through and through. It takes a special kind of pussy to whine about FREE medical care.
Hi,
Thanks for information about that England rugby star Olly Barkley has criticised his NHS treatment, nice work guys.
Thanks
Its usually the soccer players that are complete pussies. He’s a disgrace to rugby
should read former rugby player. he’ll never play again