"NHS at its knees"

Anything else?

I arrived at heartlands at 7pm after being referred by a GP. I was finally seen by a registra at 3am. I was so exhausted and uncomfortable in the waiting room they put me in that at midnight I went for a sleep in my car where I had blankets and could lie down. No body could tell me how long I would be waiting or gave me any information, it was only when I went out to see them that they would acknowledge I was even there. I saw the registra at 3am where I got what I was waiting for intravenous antibiotic. (My GP told me this at 5pm, and told me to go and have something to eat before I went to heartlands, she obviously knew how long I would be waiting). Whilst on the ward I saw very elderly patients waiting for basic things like drink and being moved in their bed as they were uncomfortable. I even saw one nurse ignore an elderly patient " please help me I feel very uncomfortable". This lady was not helped for nearly an hour!!! I was ill myself but now leaving the ward I found what I saw very distressing, if that was a relative of mine I would be very unhappy. As for my own health I am in no better situation then when I arrived, I needed a scan but could not book me in. Some of the issues seem to be the services I required were at solihull, so why was I sent to heartlands!!! I would ask for pain relief this took 40 min to get to me, surely one of the reasons I have gone in to hospital is to get pain relief if I can't get that what is the point. I have an appointment on Monday with my consultant in solihull and hope that this can be sorted out!!! The nurses were all polite but clearly under staffed!!! I would never use heartlands again in an emergency, providing I was able to I would travel to another hospital!! In the past I have had great service from the NHS especially during the birth of my children and have felt proud of the service we offer in the uk to everyone, I feel concerned about its future especially as my parents get older.