"Upsetting experience in A&E"

My dad was taken into A&E via ambulance one afternoon acutely confused. I left late in the evening and returned the following morning to what was a very distressing experience. I found my dad sitting in a chair in the middle of EAU in a gown very heavily sedated and not even able to hold his own head up and he was in fact ready to topple head first of the chair. I asked the nurse what on earth had happened and they told me they had given him medicine because he was agitated, and then turned away.

I was visibly upset and in tears at how I had found my dad and the nurses around the desk all just stood and stared at me. They showed no compassion. I had phoned first thing that morning and was only told my dad had been agitated but was now asleep.

Whilst I fully appreciate sedation may have been necessary to maintain his safety I just can’t understand why he was not put back on his trolley. What has happened to maintaining patients dignity, why was he left sitting in an area where everyone was walking past? My dad is a very quiet, gentle and proud man and he would be extremely upset at being left like this. Also not one of the members of staff tried to console me and there were plenty of them around. I had to ask for my dad to be put back on his trolley which the staff then quickly did.

I appreciate A&E is extremely busy but let’s not forget the patients it took 2 minutes to return him to his trolley and that was much more dignified for him. Also let’s not forget the relatives in what is a very upsetting experience to see their loved ones poorly and in hospital. I hope something can be learnt from this as I would hate anyone else to experience it