A patient claims dead bodies are being taken through wards

The woman, who does not want to be identified, said dead bodies could no longer be moved to the morgue in the basement of the Kent and Sussex Hospital in Tunbridge Wells.

She claimed they were instead being taken through other wards before being picked up by a van or ambulance.

The long-term patient also said visitors were having to walk up several flights of stairs to reach wards, patients had to be taken outside to be moved around the hospital, and the distribution of food was difficult.

I am assured that we have done everything that we possibly could in this difficult situation Bernard Place Director of Nursing

She said the hospital had always been "superb", but described the current situation as "disgusting".

"I don't know how the staff and porters are able to keep so positive about it... it's just not right," she told BBC Radio Kent.

In response, the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust said two out of the hospital's four lifts had been out of order since 13 January, but "established contingency plans" had been in place.

The Director of Nursing, Bernard Place, said disruption had been kept to a minimum, and he would not describe the situation as chaos.

'No formal complaints'

However, he conceded it had been a "difficult time" for the hospital.

He said patients were being transferred around the hospital with the help of ambulances, and although there had been some delays in the distribution of food, meals had been delivered.

Mr Place said bodies were not being taken through wards, but were being moved with "due reverence" through a different exit door to be transferred to the mortuary in ambulances.

He said there had been no formal complaints, and "generally speaking people appreciate the effort staff are making.

"I am assured that we have done everything that we possibly could in this difficult situation," he added.

One of the lifts was due to be back in working order on Wednesday, while the other was expected to take up to three weeks to repair.