Elderly hospital patients who were terrified that they could not summon help from nurses hoped that an electronic alarm would be installed in their day room. Instead they were given a tambourine to shake. And in case that broke, a pair of maracas was also supplied as back-up. One man visiting his mother put the system to the test by rattling the tambourine for 16 minutes but failed to attract the staff\'s attention. The hospital on Tuesday was forced to apologise after an NHS watchdog described the policy as ‘unacceptable\' and criticised it for failing to install a proper alarm system. The farcical arrangement was put in place at Cardiff Royal Infirmary after more than 30 elderly patients in the west wing complained that they were ‘too scared\' to use the day room in case staff did not hear their calls for help. The room is almost 40 metres from the nurses\' base at the Victorian hospital, which is notorious for its long corridors and has even been used to film episodes of Doctor Who. One relative said: \"It is ridiculous. These people are pensioners, not members of the Monkees or Mick Jagger. \"Where is the dignity in asking old and frail people to bash on a tambourine if they are in trouble? It makes the NHS look like a laughing stock.\" Another said he could not believe it when his 90-year-old mother told him about the tambourine ‘alarm\'. \"I thought she was joking but I went to the day room and there it was. I gave it a good hard shaking but after 16 minutes I gave up as no one responded.\" When he questioned staff at the hospital over the policy, he was told there was no money available for a more effective call system. Steve Allen, chief officer of Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Community Health Council, said: \"This is totally unacceptable and the health board must address this as a matter of concern.\" Ruth Walker, executive director of nursing for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, on Tuesday apologised. From / Gulf News