Why is there a hospital shortage?

Update:
The hospital would not admit me. Too many patients. Some of them were from the County jail. Some of them tried to escape by distracting their keepers, the EMTs and the doctors by pulling the fire alarm; this happened twice, increasing my panic.

It bothered me that prisoners were being helped and treated while I had done honest work all of my adult life and had to wait for 2 days and then go home. I think it's right to provide medical care for prisoners but it felt, at least, as if their needs entirely superseded mine.

They kept me on a short gurney for over 48 hours, no meds. I had diarrhea and a slight UTI so, naturally,they put me far away from a restroom...and I often had to walk even further because there were people waiting for them.

Then they finally gave me one mild tranquilizer. It started working--what relief! I had been having a panic attack that had gone on for 6 days 24/7--now 8 days including my 2 days on a gurney running to and from the restrooms!

Finally, I started drifting off to sleep...hoping there'd be no more fire alarms...when someone shouted at me and turned on the bright light, I jolted awake after my 20 minute nap, the first sleep I'd had in 8 days...

They'd awakened me to get me out of the hospital.

Everything that had happened had taken a long time. If they told me a doctor would see me in an hour, it would take 4 or 5 hours. It took them 2 days to get me medication as I shook, sweated, and cried staggering to and from the restroom frequently.

But when it came time to get me out of the hospital...YOWIE!!Did they ever move fast! In 10 minutes they firmly and efficiently hustled me through:
Restroom visit
Paperwork signed
Meds explained
Me getting dressed
Total: 10 minutes by the hospital clock. And I was outta there.

Home now, had a panic attack last night. A bit calmer, still shaking and sweating. But the sun is up and I am feeling more optimistic.

Thank you for taking an interest in my problems and amazingly stressful hospital sojourn. You have all been more help than you can know.

May you never have a panic attack. And may you never, ever go to an ER in southern California on a Friday or Saturday.

Not so much a shortage of hospitals, but of beds. Increasingly, ERs are being overloaded by the uninsured who cannot afford to go to a doctor's office or clinic. A portion of them are admitted bc they are really sick or the hospital wants to lower their liability. Hospitals that are chock full are put on bypass, meaning ambulances go to another hospital, and maybe not one you want.
I hope you feel better soon.

Im so sorry you are suffering. I can only hope this is a temporary shoetage and you will ger the care and assistance you need. I can only urge you look within and try and find that inner calm. Its disruotive to your condition and will only make thi gs worse. We cannot control others or our environment but we have the power to command within. Deflect the negative.
Im praying for you x x

Oh my............and people say out NHS is abysmal!

I hope you get the attention you need soon.

Did they say why?