"Shocking experience"

My mum was admitted to CAU late of Aug via the GP for a query TIA. She previously was admitted for the same a few months ago via 999 ambulance. The GP had sent her up for a ct scan of her head. We arrived at mid afternoon and she was taken quickly by the nurse to have bloods and observations taken. She was then wheeled through to the waiting area on a porters chair, thankfully, as there were no seats. The waiting room was full of people waiting to be seen.

My sister and I stood for a couple of hours before we could get a seat which we didn't mind as there were people more in need of it than us, however there was an older gentleman who had been standing for over 3hrs and not a seat was offered, no one thought to get this man a seat from another area. My sister had to ask a student nurse to get him a seat it was terrible. I understand the hospital staff are on there knees but surely something needs to be done about waiting times.

My mum who was in for a likely TIA waited 7.5hrs to be seen by a doctor, only to be told she's to go for a scan which we already knew. Her own GP sent her to the hospital for this so why did she have to wait this long to be told this again. She then had to wait another 2hrs to be taken for her scan and finally got home 12.5hrs later in the early morning. I'm sorry but I find this disgusting having a frail and unwell woman waiting this long to be told the same thing her GP told her.

In amongst this wait I was horrified to see patients having bloods taken in the middle of the waiting room for everyone to see, I feel like infection control would have a field day with this one. Observations were being taken and then to top it off, doctors were coming in and telling patients what was wrong with them and the treatment they would receive. Everyone could hear these discussions. It was just awful. More than anything this has saddened me to see the nhs like this, it saddens me that unwell patients are having to wait this long. The nurses and nursing assistants were trying their best and I feel they get the brunt of everyone's frustrations. They offerred tea and biscuits and she had some soup and a sandwich which we were thankful for. I think the powers above should be doing more because this type of care is simply not good enough.