There is no doubt I saw first hand just how busy the accident and emergency department at the hospital was

Tony Gardner, Cornwall NHS Partnership Trust

The trust that runs the hospital denied said Mr Gardner had been left in a corridor in the casualty department, overnight on 18 March this year.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust, Sue Wolstenholme, said: "He was in a side room so he wasn't actually in the corridors of the A&E department as such.

"He was seen by a doctor within two and a half hours.

"His treatment was then started so he was being treated in a side room so he could watch television and get a good night's sleep. In the morning he was transferred to a ward."

The government has set targets for the hospital, which state that patients should be transferred to a ward within four hours of a doctor deciding to admit the patient.

'Happy to wait'

In a statement issued by the Cornwall NHS Partnership Trust, Mr Gardner said: "Essentially my comfort and treatment was ensured throughout the process and into the ward.

"There is no doubt I saw first hand just how busy the accident and emergency department at the hospital was.

"I have written to thank the chief executive and staff for the high level of care I enjoyed.

"I was given no special treatment and I was happy to wait my turn."

The Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust has hopes to build two temporary wards to cope with problems of bottlenecking in A&E.