"Disgraceful treatment of elderly patient"

My 83 father, 2 hours after being discharged from the RVI, chose (unwisely) to attend South Tyneside's A&E department due to complications from the removal of a catheter. After arriving at 8.00pm a catheter was inserted by 9.00pm. However, he was left on a trolley with no pillow or sheets whilst my 85 year old mother had to sit in a chair until 5.30am the next morning when a doctor discharged him. 9 1/2 hours overnight my parents had to wait. This is absolutely disgusting. Patients should be admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours. If there had been a major incident, which there wasn't, they should have been transported to another hospital. I would also hope that elderly patients should be treated with more respect and consideration. So, why 8 1/2 hours to see a doctor? My parents are proud and private people and chose not to make a fuss and unfortunately I was away and unaware of their predicament to be present. I will be making a formal complaint on behalf of them but wonder if the hospital exploited the fact they were elderly and alone to place them at the 'bottom of the list'!? We and indeed the NHS have to do more to protect the most vunerable. My advice, ' don't attend South Tyneside A&E'!