A 67-YEAR-OLD cancer sufferer with no nose was left struggling to breathe after workmen started building in her ward while she was recuperating in hospital.

Patricia Searle was horrified when workmen started drilling holes in the wall of her ward at Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough.

Mrs Searle, from Halstead in Kent, has had problems breathing since she had her nose removed in February 2011 as part of her treatment for a rare form of cancer known as angiosarcoma.

The grandmother-of-seven, who was being treated for cellulitis in her eye, an infection caused by her radiation treatment, was left struggling to breathe for almost 40 minutes as work to install bedside lockers was carried out.

She said: "It’s despicable. They were drilling holes in the walls right next to the beds.

"There was no warning or anything so we couldn’t escape.

"I have no nose and I can’t breathe properly anyway.

"Dust was going everywhere, it was all over the bed clothes. It was terrible.

"I can’t believe it, it’s just disgraceful. They could have vacated the ward.

"The cellulitis in my left eye meant it was almost closed and very swollen and pussy.

"It's very dangerous when it's in the eye, hence my astonishment when the workmen started drilling holes in the wall right next to my bed."

A South London Healthcare Trust spokesman said the maintenance team at the PRU were installing bedside lockers for patients' personal belongings.

He said: "We are sorry for any discomfort caused to Mrs Searle during her stay at the PRU.

"The patient personal effect lockers were being installed following feedback from our patients that they required safe areas for any valuables they may have during their time with us.

"We did not feel that it was necessary to move patients out of their wards for this installation as it was for such a short amount of time."