A grandad with pneumonia and COPD waited for more than two days in a chair to be seen by doctors at hospital. Geoffrey Knell, who turns 80 in May, spent 55 “uncomfortable and painful” hours stuck in a cramped consultation room.
The grandfather-of-seven - who already has COPD - had been admitted with a chest infection at 7am on Sunday. He was later diagnosed with pneumonia but was not given a bed until 2:30pm on Tuesday.
Paul Knell, his son, said his father, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), barely slept while in the chair and was not given a single hot meal while waiting for a bed. Paul said: "He had two nights of sleep deprivation. He was with seven other people in a consultation room with no privacy.
"It was really cramped and there was no space for visitors. It's really sad. He didn't have any hot food - just cold sandwiches - and you have to get your own water.
"He can’t really walk very far, only about two steps, so my mum has to be with him 90 per cent of the time. But that means she's been losing sleep too, and she's 76."
Paul said staff at the QEQM in Kent were “clearly overwhelmed”, with little space available. He added: “I know the staff are doing everything they can - I'm just a concerned son. It’s worrying and adding stress for the family.
"We just want him to be settled - that's our main concern - so that he's getting rest and recovering as quick as possible and coming out of the hospital.”
Paul said a frail 82-year-old woman had been waiting 12 hours longer than his father for a bed. Staff were so concerned she would develop bed sores sitting in a chair that she was given an inflatable cushion.
Sarah Shingler, Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust said: “I am very sorry to hear of Geoffrey’s experience - this is not the standard of care we want for our patients.
"Safe patient care remains our priority and our staff are working extremely hard to ensure people are seen as quickly as possible.
"Both our emergency departments are being significantly expanded following £30m investment, with improved waiting areas, treatment areas for adults and children, and staff facilities.
"We are also using virtual wards, which will allow patients to receive care and treatment in their own homes, helping to avoid hospital admissions.”
