A grandad with pneumonia waited for more than two "uncomfortable and painful” days in a hospital waiting room chair to be seen by doctors.
Geoffrey Knell, who turns 80 in May, spent 55 hours stuck in a cramped consultation room at the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospital, Kent.
The grandfather-of-seven - who already has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (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, has now spoken out about the dire situation facing the hospital, saying his father barely slept while in the chair and was not given a single hot meal while waiting for a bed.
Paul, who is from Margate, 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."
East Kent Hospital Trust is currently recording the fifth worst A&E waiting times in England.
Last month just 40 per cent of patients were seen within four hours at the QEQM Hospital and the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.
At the same time more than 1,000 patients who needed to be admitted were left waiting at least 12 hours for a bed for the seventh month in a row.
Earlier this month East Kent Hospitals warned people not to attend its A&E departments unless in an emergency or if their injury or illness was life-threatening.
Paul said staff at the QEQM were "clearly overwhelmed”, he added that he saw no spare chairs and the corridors were being used as waiting rooms.
He said: "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.”
Alarmingly, 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.
Paul said he contacted his MP, Sir Roger Gale, who told him he would be raising the matter with the health secretary.
According to the British Medical Association: "The number of patients waiting over 12 hours for an emergency admission in February 2023 is still over 2.1 times higher than the one seen in February 2022 (16,404) and 22 times as high as it was in February 2020 (1.621).
"These long waiting times are due to poor patient flow, as thousands of patients who are fit for discharge remain in hospital because there is no space for them in social care.”
Chief nursing and midwifery officer at East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, Sarah Shingler 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.”
