"Interminable waiting around for a bed."

I was asked to be on Ward 16 for 07.30 for my op in ENT unit on 14th January 2014. I had already been fasting from the night before. The ward sister explained at 08.45 that there was a problem - too many people waiting for their surgery and too few beds. We were told that 'bed meetings' would take place at 09.00 and 12.00. I heard nothing more from anyone. I waited until 13.55, patiently, then my Mum(who was also not eating and drinking as she felt it would be unfair as I was not able to) went to the desk and enquired whether I would be getting surgery today after all, and could I leave? She was assured I was on today's list. Anyway, to cut a very long, tedious story short for this review, I was allocated a bed five minutes later (!!), and promised I would see a nurse shortly to be booked in and go down for my op - at 15.40 I had still seen no-one! Finally, around 16.30 I was booked in, prepped and off for surgery. Next day, saw the consuktant good and early, before 09.00 - was told my drain could be removed, and a nurse would do this within 30 minutes and then I could go home. Rang Mum, as she had a forty minute drive to come and get me - she arrived at 11.15 and I still had not had my drain out. Again Mum went to request that I receive the service I had been told I was getting and my drain was removed immediately and I was on my way home. The nurse told us that the 'over-booking' of beds and the long wait for attention on the Ward was due to this specialist Breast/ENT unit being told (by the 'Powers that Be'?) to take elderly medical procedure cases. Indeed, the previous evening whilst recovering from my op and elderly gentleman was wandering the corridors in and agitated state, accompanied by what appeared to be a 'minder' - again, not the fault of staff on Ward 16, but the abject failure of senior management at the hospital to manage professionally and effectively. I have no complaints at all about any member of staff I encountered there - they are doing a difficult job, made almost impossible by inept and uncaring management. This needs to be sorted soon or the good reputation of this particular Ward will be rapidly lost and it will become just another mediocre service in a mediocre NHS.