Patient, 95, given plastic bag for sling at Wolverhampton's New Cross Hospital

And Joseph Ward, of Wednesfield, had to wait a week to have a proper sling fitted.

His family paid £40 to buy their own specialised slings and described the situation as New Cross Hospital, Wolverhampton, as awful.

After staff used the green carrier bag, Mr Ward's makeshift sling was upgraded to a pillow case. Hospital bosses have apologised for the gaffe.

Mr Ward was admitted to hospital following a fall at home. His arm was badly injured after he lay on it for several hours.

The green carrier bag which hospital staff used as a makeshift sling is normally given to patients for them to put their belongings in.

It had to be taped up to ensure that it was strong enough to support Mr Ward's arm.

After a week Mr Ward's daughter, Jane Crutchley, could not believe that her father had still not been given the correct sling.

When he was transferred to diabetic ward C16, staff used a pillow case instead of the green carrier bag.

Mrs Crutchley, also of Wednesfield, said: "When taken to A&E, the doctor said that my father needed a Bradford sling to elevate the arm and reduce swelling.

"However, no slings could be found and a triangular bandage and hospital carrier bag were used instead and they were later swapped for a pillow case.

"I was so frustrated that I purchased one for him which cost me forty pounds as I couldn't bear to see my dad look so uncomfortable.

"He is 95 years old and the fact that they couldn't locate a correct sling is awful.

"I know that they are doing their best, but how much more will the NHS have to suffer?" asked Mrs Crutchley.

Mr Ward, who suffers from heart failure, diabetes and has kidney problems, was told that it would be too risky to operate on his injured arm which was diagnosed with compartment syndrome – a painful and potentially serious condition caused by bleeding or swelling within the muscles.

A Bradford sling is a specialised piece of equipment used to elevate a limb and reduce swelling. It also helps to immobilise the limb to prevent any accidental damage.

Mrs Crutchley said: "The sling was obviously very important to his recovery as this is a serious complaint. I feel that the delay in this could have slowed down the recovery to his arm."

A spokesman for the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs New Cross Hospital, said Mr Ward had been personally apologised to.

"With no Bradford sling in stock and to keep the patient comfortable while elevating his arm, staff on both wards used improvised slings and pillows," he said.

"On ward C21 a temporary sling was made using a bag because it was cleanable and met hospital infection control standards. It was then replaced with a pillow case sling by an orthopaedic doctor on ward C16.

"This is a widely used and accepted practice to provide elevation. An alternative sling was then sourced from the fracture clinic which the patient is now using.

"At no time was the patient uncomfortable and his medical needs were met at all times. An incident report has been filed and any lessons learned will be shared with colleagues," said the spokesman.

"The trust has agreed to reimburse the family the cost of the two Bradford slings which they purchased.

"Head of nursing Rose Baker has been to see the patient and apologised to him personally."

Mrs Crutchley said no one had yet contacted her about reimbursing the family for the costs of the slings.

Two months ago a bed shortage at the hospital led to cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in an open waiting room.

Sharon Wilkinson, of Wheaton Aston, went to the hospital for a chemo top up and was told her treatment would not be carried out in the usual Deanesly Room, but the Snowdrop Room.

However, when she got there she was shocked to discover patients were receiving treatment in an open waiting room off a corridor and not a specialist suite.