Michele Ennis is taking her complaint to the Chief Exec

Her experience came a week after First Minister Rhodri Morgan visited the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, after claims it was in crisis.

An anonymous e-mail from a senior nurse was sent to AMs claiming patients were being treated "worse than animals".

Here Michele Ennis praises nursing staff but likens her stay to "being in the Bermuda triangle".

She now plans to raise her case with senior managers.

Despite already been diagnosed with diverticulitis and following her initial assessment at A&E, Mrs Ennis said she had to wait five days to see a senior health professional to undergo tests.

Hospital managers last month admitted there were problems after an anonymous e-mail from a senior nurse sent to the politicians claimed patients were being treated "worse than animals".

Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust said in a statement: "We are unable to comment on an individual case but would be happy to look into Mrs Ennis's concerns if she contacts us about them directly."

Mrs Ennis - who was in the University of Wales Hospital from 18 January 18 to 2 February - tells her story:

"I have been in and out of hospital 10 times since September after being diagnosed with diverticulitis in January last year.

"It's got quite bad which was what took me into hospital this time - on Tuesday 18 January. I saw a surgical doctor the first time at A&E but I wanted to see my previous consultant's team because my case is not surgical - it is medical.

"I've seen around eight to 10 consultant teams in my time at the hospital but I think there should be some continuity.

"When I was on the trolley in the assessment unit, I was in the middle of the unit, there was nowhere to put my belongings and I just watched everything coming and going, I've worked there so I know the pressure the staff are under.

"If somebody needs help before me that was fine, but you get to a point when you start getting frustrated, it meant my treatment couldn't begin. I was on pain relief injections of morphine so the staff would have to move into a bay to give me the injections.

Emergency admission problems were highlighted at the hospital in January

"I know it was hard on the staff but it was hard on me as well.

"After being on a trolley for two days in A&E, I was transferred to the ambulatory care services unit - which is an absolutely fantastic place.

"The staff are lovely but it was a bit like the bermuda triangle, nobody knew where people were.

"The nurses on the ACS unit kept bleeping consultants on the weekend to come and see me, but no-one came. That's when the anger and frustation came in.

"I thought I might see someone then on the Monday but I saw no house officer or doctor, on the Tuesday at 7am I called the charge nurse over and told I couldn't go on like that.

The food was also always sandwiches for lunch and either cottage pie, shepherd's pie or corned beef pie for dinner. It wasn't until we complained on the ward that we got a hot lunch

"A consultant and registrar came to see me and one said 'this is where you are, I thought you have gone to Llandough.'

"I believe it was stated in my notes to be transferred to Llandough at the beginning.

"I was so thankful to see a doctor at last. They organised tests but then because I was constipated they had to treat that first.

"I was very frustrated, I hadn't see a doctor for five days, then there was the extra complication of constipation.

"The food was also always sandwiches for lunch and either cottage pie, shepherd's pie or corned beef pie for dinner. It wasn't until we complained on the ward that we got a hot lunch.

"As for my treatment, there must be a system in place where doctors can follow up. There should be someone available at the weekend, particularly as I was in so much pain.

"It wasn't the nursing staff at the unit the nurses were better that I've ever seen before - it's the system.

"That's why I am putting together a complaint letter to the chief executive.