Mrs Jill Robinson's husband, Paul, is 78 years old and following a fall in the street in Taree around 3pm on June 5, he was taken to Manning Hospital by an ambulance.

In a letter emailed to the State Premier, the Minister for Health John Della Bosca, Federal Minister for Health Nicola Roxon, Hunter New England Health and the Prime Minister, Mrs Robinson details her husband's time in Accident and Emergency.

She said when her husband arrived at the hospital, he was taken off the gurney and sent to sit in the waiting room until 7.30pm when he, still in shock and with no attempt having been made to treat him, made the decision to sign himself out. Triage administered a tetanus shot, an anti-nausea tab and two Panadol tablets and his family took him home.

"His injuries were extensive," Mrs Robinson told the MPs. "He sustained blows to his head, knees, elbows, hands and most of his face; all of these wounds continued to ooze blood freely during the entire time he sat in the waiting room with no one to care for him much to the shock of other patients. Also, no attempt was made to clean the street dirt or blood from his injuries, leaving him in great danger of serious infection.

"I must add that there were other patients in that room in need of attention including an over 80 lady who arrived when we did and had been sent by her GP from Tuncurry for admission. She was still waiting when we left.

"At the time the A and E was receiving a fairly moderate flow of traffic - but the staff told us that there were no beds. I take this to mean - no staff either.

"I have to add that the State Minister for Health journeyed to Taree to officially open this facility on May 25. Unfortunately, it would appear that he overlooked the further need to provide staff to run it. Are we into property or people?