Countess of Chester Hospital 2016-01-21 Person 1 5 0

My father was admitted to ward 47 after waiting 9hours in A&E. The following morning my mum and I were trying to contact the ward to see how he was, find out if he was going to stay another night, find out visiting hours, find out what the test results/diagnosis were etc.. My elderly mum tried numerous times to get through. One time someone answered the phone and then put it down on her. When I eventually got through (11.30 am) I explained the frustration of trying to get through to the ward and how we were worried about my father. Knowing that he would be worried too I asked the nurse to tell him that I had called and that we would be there at visiting time. Unfortunately she didn't carry out this simple request that would have put my father and us at ease. He had no idea I had called. Such a small request too. Especially after the nurse said she would pass the message on to him. Thankfully he was discharged later in the day but I was upset that this request wasn't carried out and that he didn't know I had phoned to see how he was. Upsetting for the patient and the family and it demonstrated to me that the nurse didn't care. I am sorry to have to say this but I am disappointed with the NHS. A&E was litter strewn too and not the best place for an 87 year old man to have to wait for 5 hours with a suspected minor heart attack. Simple quality processes that could be improved would not go amiss.