"Triage for pain"

My elderly parent presented to ED in the evening with 9/10 constant lower back pain radiating down their leg and numbness to foot, pain increased 10/10 with spasms every 2-5 minutes, despite taking analgesics at home. They were in obvious distress and was clammy and feeling faint with the pain. My parent was given analgesia with no effect. I spoke to the triage nurse and explained my parent was distressed and still in severe pain but was told they have to wait their time to see the Dr. I was told my parent was triaged a Cat 3.... I asked why not a cat 2 as per ATS "very severe pain" and distressed. I was recall I was told no -my parent is a triage 3 and they have to wait their time! I asked again for analgesia for them. Also was told the shift coordinator would come speak to me. An hour plus later, we were still awaiting for both these! My parent was finally taken in to the department after several hours of waiting when the doctor saw them within minutes. The doctor was professional and great with my parent.

I cannot believe that an elderly person in distress (which was hand written on the triage notes), with pain 9-10/10 constant and no relief from analgesia, was left to wait 9hrs in the waiting room. I am an ED nurse and I totally understand the stress and workings of the ED, however, if you have nurses triaging, surely they should be experienced enough to follow the ATS, as I believe they didn't?! It upsets me to write this as I have never had a problem as a patient in JHC ED before, however I feel if this can be used as a source for extra training for triage nurses so that this will hopefully not happen to any other patient.