A seriously ill pensioner was left stranded outside his home after being sent home from hospital alone in a taxi.

Alexander Withnell, 78, was discharged from the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh without his family's knowledge after receiving treatment for fluid on his lungs on August 1.

Unable to climb the steps into his home, Mr Withnell waited outside his house until his 89-year-old wife Isabella spotted him and went down with a wheelchair.

As she lifted him into it, Mrs Withnell fell and injured herself, leaving them both stranded in the stairwell of their home until their son arrived 15 minutes later.

Acting NHS Lothian chief executive Jim Crombie has apologised to Mr Withnell and his family in a statement.

The Withnells say they have had no direct contact with the health board since the incident.

Mr Crombie said: "I would like to apologise to Mr Withnell and his family for any distress caused during this very unusual incident.

"We are investigating thoroughly to establish what happened and we will be in contact with the family."