"Unreasonable care delays"

My parent who is in a wheelchair has chronic pain and is severely underweight, arrived for a scheduled admission at a particular time in the afternoon. No bed available until 2 hours and 45 minutes later. Was given a gurney by the receptionist. Nurse did not attend for 2 hours. Transferred to ward to commence bowel prep for a colonoscopy to screen for cancer.

I believe bowel prep was to start in the evening. My parent has been on a week-long restricted food diet with laxatives as their body cannot tolerate normal prep. They have been unwell this period, I have needed to come from interstate to support them. Hundreds of dollars on flights and 2 days lost pay because of the late notice.

The bowel prep which we brought in with us was meant to be started in the evening, 4 hours earlier, so my parent's doses could be staggered. Their next dose was to start early in the morning due to their emaciated condition. They paged the doctors twice: we simply need it charted. We have instructions on how to take the medication, it is our own and I am with my parent to assist.

Now, my parent's morning dose will be pushed back, I feel jeopardising their procedure the next day. My parent is at increased risk of fall as they can't mobilise properly. It is now going to be the middle of the night: my parent is fatigued, there is reduced staff and they have been fasting from early afternoon. I believe no one has seen my parent to consider additional fluids etc given their physical state. I live over an hour away and have been waiting to assist my parent with toileting to enable them to be safe and retain dignity. Factors that in my opinion, do not seem to be appreciated from an ethical, moral or clinical perspective.

Thoroughly frustrated, disappointed and powerless in this situation. The nursing staff said that the doctors were not responding to their two pages, which I believe actually went to two different teams. I do not believe that there has been appropriate advocacy or assessment, I feel a phone order would take 2 minutes.

In my opinion, the hospital is evidently understaffed and there is an absence of understanding of how chronic conditions and associated concerns low BMI and issues with metabolic regulation impact the need for care to be timely.