"Overlooked by A&E, in agony!"

I attended A&E with my husband after first contacting 111 and being told an out of hours GP would be in touch by phone within 2 hours, within 5 mins he rang us to tell my husband he needed to attend A&E immediately for an urgent catheterization, due to not being able to pass any urine since the night before and was told that it would be treated as an emergency.

We attended Rotherham A&E whereupon I explained the circumstances whilst checking him in at the reception desk.

I was told it was up-to 5 hours wait but he should be seen by triage in around an hour.

We sat and waited, my husband was in agony, I went back and explained again at the desk, they said the GP shouldn't say about not waiting long as they don't know the wait time, I said but surely if the GP has said what the problem/treatment needed is then triage should prioritise, they said they had noted on the system that he was in pain.

I again went to reception after over an hour had passed and they didn't know he'd not yet been seen by triage as apparently they had said he would be soon so they apologized and said he should be seen next.

When finally we were called through and I told triage they said he needed urgent catheterization! The nurse tried the ward but no beds available so said they would try a cubicle in A&E, my husband was in agony so just wanted the soonest possible treatment where ever it was.

We were took straight to a cubicle but then was left hanging about whilst staff who could carry out the procedure were available.

Bloods were mentioned to check his kidneys but still not been requested and still not seen by Doctor over an hour after being catheterized.

We were just left waiting. 2 hours after being catheterized we were still waiting to see a doctor so I asked how long before he might be seen and we were told it could be up to 7 hours!

This is totally unacceptable.

The complete lack of staff trying to run the NHS is shambolic, the NHS is on its knees and nowhere more obvious than Rotherham District Hospital!!