"Made to feel embarrassed and upset"

Had been suffering badly for two weeks following returning home from holiday with very bad bites. After days of being unable to contact my GP I contacted the on call doctor. I was prescribed antibiotic medication over the phone and advised should my symptoms change to present to A&E.

I began to feel worse, nauseous, light headed and extreme pain from the bites that continued to ooze and weep.  The pain was so bad I could not wear clothes or shoes. I ended up presenting to A&E at midnight very reluctantly as I fully understand the pressures on hospitals at this time.

The staff in A&E were fantastic. So attentive and I felt that nothing was a bother. My blood pressure was raised and that was a concern to the staff along with the very obviously infected bites.

After 8 hours in A&E I was moved to minors at 7:30am and assured I would be seen promptly. Again up until this point every member of staff had been excellent. Professional and so caring.

I was called into minors this morning at 8:20 by a doctor who I can only say made me feel ashamed, embarrassed and upset. I was advised that a bite was not a reason to attend a&e and that my own GP would have been suffice to manage on Monday. My symptoms were played down, minimised and I felt nothing but shame for having attended the hospital - which I had done very reluctantly. I was literally dismissed.

The dr also noted that if  I had been advised to attend A&E if my symptoms worsened, (which I had) it was only people covering themselves. Remarks were also made about lack of work from GP's and how the buck then stops with the A&E dept.

I left the department shocked, stunned, embarrassed and still in excruciating pain with my blood pressure elevated. I am not a frequent flyer where attending hospital is concerned but I honestly feel that this interaction would completely put me off presenting ever again, and probably to the detriment of my health.

I have relatives who work within your trust and they are horrified by the behaviour I experienced at minors. I fully appreciate the pressures that staff are under currently but as a patient who was frightened and in pain I am totally dissatisfied with this level of care.