"My husbands A and E experience"

Phoned NHS Direct at 6. 40pm really just requiring some advice regarding my partner. We were then told that we needed to talk to a nurse but none were available so someone would phone us back. We got a phone call back just shortly after 8pm and once spoken to a nurse was told that he needed to be seen by a doctor and they would get out of hours to phone us with an appointment. They did phone us to ask us to go to Ayr Hospital to ADOC for 9. 15.

When we arrived which was a bit early we were taken in within minutes to see the doctor. On examining my partner the doctor said he need to be seen by a surgeon. We were then asked to wait outside for a minute while the person contacted them. A few minutes later the surgeon arrived to ask us to go to A&E and tell them that the surgeon had seen us and sent us to them. They new we were coming.

When we got to A&E we had to give full information again then were asked to take a seat in their waiting area.

We were then seen by a nurse very quickly but again asked to wait outside. I asked how long it would be and was told by the nurse that he would go and page the doctor as he was on the ward, to which I replied so about 20 - 30 minutes and was told yes.

My partner and I both have other health issues and are both on medication for pain etc. We sat in the waiting room till after 11pm and when inquiring if it would be better if he came back the next morning or went and saw his GP we were told no he really has to wait and see the Doctor. The doctor had two patients before us. After midnight we were still waiting, by this stage no one else was in the waiting room and we once again asked reception how much longer. A nurse came out and spoke to us and said the doctor still had another two patients to see before us. After we explained again that my partner was in a lot of pain she did give him two DH tablets but this alone is not enough to take his pain away and as he was now two hours late with them they were really not helping.

In the end we were both falling asleep, the hospital was so hot but chairs are not made to sit for long time. He was so sore with sitting but also sore to stand. So at 1. 50am he told reception we were leaving and we left.

If it was that important that he had to wait to see a surgeon then why were we left in a hot hospital with uncomfortable seats for nearly 5 hours.