"A&E waiting times"

I called an ambulance for my dad, aged 78, at 8.15pm on Thursday 16th february. 3 hrs later the ambulance turned up, due to my dads temperature running high and oxygen levels being low he was taken straight to cramlington hospital A&E department. I followed the ambulance in my car with my mam and fiancé. When we got there dad had been taken straight into a side room. We went to join my dad in the side room, but there were signs up on the walls saying "only one visitor allowed in with the patient at anyone time", even though other patients had 2 or 3 family members with them, but nothing was said. Therefore we had to take it in turns to sit with my dad waiting for the doctor to come and see him

The room my dad had been taken to smelt of strong urine, which actually knocked you sick. I did mention this to one of the nurses, which they apologized, explained another patient had accident, which the cleaner did come back n cleaned the floor again, but it didn't help the smell.

After waiting 2hrs i asked when was the doctor coming to see my dad? To be told, my dad had to have his bloods taken first before he sees the doctor, he's due to have them around 03.15am and then its gonna be a further 6hrs to see the doctor. I nearly passed out in shock. I knew the A&E service levels were bad but this is totally unacceptable. It's a matter of life and death and if your loved one needs urgent medication which could save your life, the chances of them getting are 0-1%.

After being told it was 8hrs waiting in A&E, being as my fiancé and i had to goto work in morning, we decided to go home.

I called the hospital at 845am to find out what was happening with my dad to be told he was still waiting to see a doctor and its gonna be a few more hours and to call back around lunchtime. Accordingly to my calculations that makes it over 13hrs wait time in A&E Department. It's suppose to be an emergency department not a doctors surgery.