Unacceptable emergency department queues were long foreseen

It is shocking and unacceptable that elderly patients are kept waiting in chairs in Accident & Emergency wards for lengths of time that are equivalent to multiple working days.

The fear, anguish and lack of dignity afforded to those who have given much to this country can only be imagined. That nursing staff stoically carry out their duties, under such difficult and stressful working conditions, is a credit to them.

But this is not a problem that crept up on us. It was foreseen that with an aging population, and a lack of community care, this situation was inevitable. As usual, we end up trying to solve problems rather than try to prevent them.