"Conditions in A&E"

Following my husband's prostrate operation (at another hospital), he experienced excruciating pain and blood in his urine. His doctor referred him immediately to St James, with a timed appointment to attend that evening.

On arrival we gave them the referral letter, they took a water sample and we were asked to take a seat.

an hour and a quarter later. nobody had been back to see my husband. When I queried this, nobody knew we were there, the letter had gone missing.

My husband's name was then put on the board.

He needed epilepsy medication at 1.5 hours after the scheduled appointment time which they said they'd get, but never did. I had to return home to get it.

They came to take blood four times.

Apparently we should have seen a nurse in 15 minutes but nobody came.

Over three hours after the scheduled appointment time we went to tell them we were leaving as nobody came to us.

We thought it was filthy, there was a lack of care and we weren't happy. They asked us to sign a discharge letter which we refused to do.

I took my husband home and to a different hospital in another city the next day.

Both my husband and I were appalled at the situation we were faced with in A & E. I thought it was filthy, very unhygienic, people were laid on the floor, asleep across chairs, total lack of organisation. I thought it was chaotic and appalling.