"NHS Waiting Times"

My father who is 84 years old in January suffered excruciating eye pain throughout the night. In the morning of the 20th October 2007 he rang his local GP who advised him to go to the casualty department of the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. My father rang me and asked me if I could drive him to the hospital, which is a 40 minute journey from where we live. He advised me that the GP had told him that he would be seen quite quickly. I drove him to the door of the hospital and went to wait in the car park. I was left somewhat speechless to find that I had to wait 7 and half hours. I went to see what was keeping him, only to find him sitting in a corridor on a hard plastic chair. I realize that there is no point in complaining as I feel no one really cares now-a-days about anyone. After 7 and half hours my father was admitted to a ward and I was allowed to go home and feed my family. Next time I intend to call an ambulance.