A patient at Royal Bolton Hospital was given a shock after being stuck in a lift for 45 minutes.

Irfan Mahmood, aged 21, of Moses Gate, was on his way outside to get some fresh air away from the ward he was on when the incident happened.

He was incensed after what happened, believing that levels of maintenance should be better.

He said: “How can a hospital lift break down on a patient.

"They shouldn’t leave patients who are ill in a lift for 45 minutes.

“It should be looked at every week.”

Irfan recalled what led up to the incident.

He said: “I came out for fresh air from my ward and went to get the lift from the first floor to the ground floor.

“They came and got me out after 45 minutes.”

The unfortunate incident damaged Irfan’s faith in the hospital.

He said: “To be honest I don’t think the hospital is fit at all. Imagine a hospital bed failing on someone.”

Rae Wheatcroft, chief operating officer at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We are really sorry to the patient for their awful experience of being trapped in a lift.

“While we have a full maintenance plan in place for our lifts unfortunately, as with any mechanical equipment, breakdowns may happen and we are sorry for this.

“We are awaiting the outcome of a bid for new hospital funding, which if successful will help to resolve some of the challenges that we sometimes face.”