"Very disappointed"

Brought my 88 year old father here for abnrmal blood results which needed urgent investigation. Pre phoned phlebotomy so we were expected. A particular member of staff was very proactive visiting A&E asking exactly what bloods they would require-then we told blood would go to Darenth valley. Assured they would be analysed here immediately but. No bloods found. A&E was very busy at 3 pm but we were triaged relatively quickly. All bloods had to be done again. ECG carried out. Moved to minor A&E which was quieter. Dad kept here until after 11 am in a chair, a very long time for a diabetic poorly elderly patient. We were Not kept updated at all, and 2 sets of X-rays were taken with no results reported to us. Seen in

early hours of the morning by thorough consultant who requested a barrage of tests. At

X-ray seen very quickly, but told that my father HAD to be on a trolley in a gown. We organized this ourselves as no one helped us out. porter told us she would organize a chair afterwards, but she never came back. Radiographer made Dad change back into his own clothes and wanted trolley back immediately. Difficult with cannula in his arm and nearly falling over he was so tired! I grabbed 2 pillows which were Left by another patient, and covered them in blankets I had asked for, as seats are really uncomfortable after so long and he was getting a sore behind. I laid him over 3 seats which did not have arms and told by a male nurse that he would have to sit up ( he never actually did this but made me feel guilty) . dad managed to drop off to sleep and within 15 minutes he was woken for blood pressure..several hours later after dad had fallen asleep again, still in waiting room, he woke for blood pressure again. Apart from this, at NO point from 3pm to 10am did anyone come and talk to us. At 7am, dad was feeling poorly and did his own insulin test. results were 20.6 and nurse said he had been SO busy he didn’t know he was diabetic .. This nurse then turned on another nurse saying why had SHE not realized... he then rushed to get a sandwich. An hour After handover,

I went to reception for update and was told they were ridiculously busy. I perfectly understand, but have to say at no point were we updated or felt cared for -Especially at 88 there was no acknowledgement for age. We were transferred about 11am to Keats ward, where I was ushered straight into the relatives room and told if no one came to get me after an appropriate length of time to ask. Half an hour later I asked, and told where dad was. He was all alone in his clothes on a drip. No one asked me any questions, and I left dad struggling.

After nearly a whole day, I could barely stay awake so searched out his allocated nurse. She told me I had to provide all his meds except insulin - in a hospital? I then phoned at 7pm to get an update and was told to phone after midday the following day, after ward rounds. This is simply unacceptable after a 20 plus hour wait with no sleep. I hope things improve drasticall