"Disappointing"

My 3 year old son was admitted to the hospital by ambulance as he became ill and unresponsive after visiting the GP for a cough and breathing difficulties (that he'd been to A & E for in the early hours of the same day). Upon arrival he was transferred to the out of hours / A&E waiting area where he waited an hour before he saw a nurse who asserted that though he looked and seemed fine she considered him higher risk as he'd been in the hospital twice in 24 hours. She advised he see a doctor, so he waited another 3 hours and was still not seen. In this time a lot of people had been through. After this 4 hour period my husband and I decided it was better for his well being to take him home having not seen a doctor as we were concerned that 1 - he was being exposed to any number of viruses and illnesses in the waiting room during the time he was there that could make him more ill 2 - it was very late 10.45pm and he was very tired (and poorly) 3 - he was becoming restless and distressed through tiredness and boredom. Though we understand that cases are prioritised, we are beyond disappointed and extremely worried that a 3 year old child arriving in an ambulance is not seen by a doctor after 4 hours! We feel extremely let down by this system which clearly fails to prioritise small children. 4 hours is just unacceptable.