"This is not acceptable"

My dad has a heart problem and had been feeling unwell. He was having chest pains, so we called an ambulance. We arrived at Northampton general Hospital at midday and were told to wait in casualty.

We waited there for hours. A nurse did come and take blood after 3 hours and said a doctor would be along shortly. The department was not very busy so there weren't many new patients to be seen.

We were eventually offered a cup of tea. I then had to go home and my mother came and sat with my dad. At 10.00am he had still not been seen by a doctor and had not been told when a doctor would see him or the results of his blood test.

This is not acceptable. It is a very difficult time and patients need to be reassured and made to feel that someone is looking after them and they have not been forgotten.