A PENSIONER has lodged an official complaint after allegedly having the wrong name tag fitted to his wrist at Ipswich Hospital.

Charles Dewen, 75, said he was being taken for treatment when the wristband fell off and on retrieving it claims he discovered it referred to someone else.

He claims the alleged mistaken identity has made him afraid to attend hospital for treatment in future.

Mr Dewen, of Kingsfleet Road, Felixstowe, had been rushed to hospital by a paramedic in a 4x4 at 2am after suffering chest pains.

He said: “They thought I might have a blocked heart valve and need an operation and not long after I arrived at hospital they suddenly took me for treatment.

“As we were going down the corridor, the name tag fell off my left wrist and onto the floor.

“I retrieved it and was really shocked to see that it was someone else’s name. You hear about cases of the wrong people having the wrong treatment – they could have done anything to me.

“When I pointed this out, I was immediately taken back to the assessment area.”

Later on January 21 he was given an x-ray and the all clear and some medication, after being told his condition was possibly caused by stress or a flare up of the diverticulitis – a digestive disease – from which he suffers.

He said: “I am terrified of going to hospital again. I have made a complaint because I want a full explanation and a reassurance over this situation.”

Ipswich Hospital spokeswoman, Jan Ingle said: “We have received Mr Dewen’s letter outlining his concerns and we are very sorry that Mr Dewen had an unhappy experience. We will be carefully investigating the issues he raised.”