"Waiting time to be seen in Surgical Assessment"

I was referred to the surgical assessment by my GP for pain and high temperature. She had spoken to a microbiologist who advised I needed to get fluid antibiotics via IV. That’s the reason I was sent up. 

I arrived late afternoon and was not seen until 4am. 11 hours in a small, hot waiting room in pain. 

There were 2 doctors available. One was called to a different hospital and another was being called to A&E regularly. 

Everyone waiting was getting frustrated and asking the nurses what was happening.

The nurses themselves told us to put in a complaint as it is a regular occurrence that people are waiting around 8 hours to be seen in the surgical assessment unit. Some people left as they were sitting in pain for too long and had given up. 

Thankfully when I was seen at 4am things moved quickly, I got my scan and IV.  There were no beds available and I was grateful to be given a treatment room to rest up and receive my treatment. 

Why is it taking so long to be seen in this unit? Why are we being told this is normal for this unit? What solutions are available? An 11 hour wait time is way off the targets and is unacceptable. 

I feel sorry for the nurses having to deal with patients frustration.