"Lack of doctors"

My father of 88 was recentley admitted to hospital. On his third day was really quite poorly, the nursing staff had been bleeping for a doctor all day, so they could put up a drip.

Myself & my husband arrived at 4.50pm & was told my father was next to be seen, we sat & waiting for TWO & A HALF HOURS - not a sign.

The sister arrived on the ward & she telephoned for a doctor to come & see my father & told them if nobody came in the next half hour a formal complaint would be made by us.

The doctor arrived a little after 8.00pm, my father had had no fluids since midnight the day before - 20 Hours with no fluids, he finally sgned that a drip could be put up.

We were told by the staff , that there was only 1 sister & 2 doctors on duty for the whole of the hospital (Saturday 14th July 2007). What are we, a third world country?

We tried to get a cup of tea/coffee, the cafes were shut & the vending machines were broken.

At sometime we are all nearly going to need the hospial-something must be done & quickly.

I think perhaps we should put management in the place of patients & get them out of their ivory towers.