THE family of an 89-year-old Risca woman hit out last night claiming she waited seven hours for a doctor who never arrived after a fall at her Risca home.

Her son-in-law Brian Morgan found Marjorie Caseley lying on the floor just after 9am on Sunday.

Although conscious, the pensioner had suffered a gash to her head and was unable to get up.

Mr Morgan, of Raglan Street, Risca, said: "I immediately called the local GP's out-of-hours service and was told a doctor would be with us within four to five hours.

"At the time they said it didn't require calling 999 and the wait at casualty was five hours.

"We thought it best to stay with her and wait for the doctor to arrive."

Mr Morgan told the Argus he managed to lift Mrs Caseley into a chair but remained worried about her head wound.

When, five hours later, no-one had arrived he called his local councillor Brian Hancock.

Mr Hancock made a call and reassured Mr Morgan a doctor would be with him within the hour.

But at about 4pm Mr Morgan received another call from the GP's out-of-hours service to say a doctor was not coming out to see his mother-in-law.

Mr Morgan said: "It's absolutely disgusting. The head injury could have caused any kind of complication."

Councillor Brian Hancock added: "I'm appalled."

A spokesman for Gwent Healthcare NHS Trust said: "Our recorded telephone records show that when the family rang at 10.15am, they spoke to the doctor on duty within five minutes.

"The possibility of an X-ray being needed was discussed and they were offered an ambulance to take the patient to hospital.

"After discussions with the family it was decided this was not necessary.

"We explained that the case could therefore be treated as routine not urgent and as other people might take priority, there could be a wait of four to five hours.

"We rang the family again at 4.15pm to check on the lady's condition. It was agreed with the family that she did not require any further assistance from the service," he added.