"Strange way of dealing with patients"

I visited MRI with my son who had a serious infection, after being advised to attend A & E by the 111 service. I have to say that A & E has improved enormously from previous visits - much cleaner, availability of porters and friendly staff (although no-one introduced themselves by name). However, I found the process a little worrying. As I work for the NHS, I am aware of the four-hour target and, sure enough, with minutes to go, my son was transferred to a ward. Well, I say a ward but actually it was the 'receiving unit' on ESTU - which was little more than a collection of a few trolleys and chairs (chairs for patients?!!) The ward was cvercrowded, roasting hot and no member of staff bothered to see whether my son was ok or not or explain what was happening. An older patient was playing a mouth organ which was upsetting everyone else as it was intrusive and tuneless and, while I know it is a difficult decision for staff, I did feel that the views of other patients should be taken into account. Surely ill people deserve a bit of peace? I had gone home to get my son an overnight bag (us having been told that he might be in for 2-3 days) when I got a call to say he was coming home. I honestly think it is the target-driven approach (plus the additional payment for admission) which drove his care, not his own interests., Doctors gave the impression that they did not know what was wrong with him - one minute he was being given antibiotics and the next only pain relief on discharge. I don't think the CCG should be paying for an admission when it is merely a few hours in a chair or in a holding area. I felt as if my son was just a statistic tbh even though I understand very well the processes and pressures on acute trusts. I think this is something that the commissioners should take up with them as it is public money. Lastly, there only seemed to be one thermometer in A & E (various people came looking for it) which seems a little strange and there were no chairs for carers to sit on at all. Also, the drink and food machines were not filled up and working. The staff were friendly, though, and were very good. But I can't imagine how awful it must be to work on that ward. One of the patients was shouting at the nurses and it did seem rather understaffed (1 nurse to 8 patients ??)