"Poor experience waiting in emergency"

At the start of this year, I was unfortunately taken by ambulance to the Emergency Department at Rockingham Hospital. On arrival I was put in a wheelchair in the waiting room - I had already told the paramedic that despite taking paracetamol my pain was 9/10, I was not seen at that time by any nursing staff. I sat in the waiting room for a further 2 hours, my pain was becoming intolerable so I approached the clerk and told them my pain was getting worse, the clerk sent me to the triage nurse who asked me to sit and wait as they were already with a patient. The triage nurse in the other window came across and asked if I was OK - I told them I wasn't and that my pain was getting worse. I was asked for a urine sample, after I gave them that they took me into a room behind triage and a Dr came. After being examined by the Dr I was taken straight through.

After a few tests it showed that my bowel was obstructed and was starting to die - I was then rushed by ambulance to another hospital for emergency surgery.

I think it was very poor care by the triage nurses - I was never offered any pain relief beside my pain being so bad. I had also had no check of my pulse or blood pressure. I have since learnt that my condition could have been life-threatening (I am a senior person).

We had previously had a similar bad experience with this ED with my late husband. I felt that the staff didn't take me seriously and felt that I was putting it on.

I understand that waiting in Emergency is necessary but I feel that at least some pain medicine would be helpful and I also feel the nurses should be checking on their patients whilst they're waiting, particularly if it's for a few hours.