"Broken arm and no examination for 4 hours"

My wife's broken arm went unexamined for 4 hours as she sat and waited in great pain in a side corridor. The lack of communication from the staff was woeful. The wait seemed to be for a bed in a screened area. My wife did not need a bed, she needed an X-ray (as originally recommended by our GP upon initial examination). Any slight movement caused her excruciating pain. But there appeared be little to no interest in making her comfortable during the long wait for a doctor. When a doctor did appear, he was patronising and did not appear interested in my wife's pain. And his recommendation? An X-ray! And the treatment? A sling! Very similar to the one our GP fitted earlier in the day! Five hours wait which only served to exacerbate my wife's suffering. The first time we have required A&E in 25 years of marriage. We feel badly let down by the NHS - the standard of care has suffered badly after years of cutbacks and corporate mis-management. The Junior Sister on duty who did her best for us, and was a reassuring professional presence, deserves credit. And the radiographer and ambulance triage staff too. But they were also let down by a system that works against them, instead of with them, and a lack of support.