"No help. No compassion. Really worried"

It is Friday, and I need an urgent conlultation for recent onset non faecal rectal discharge and abdominal pain . As a retired health care professional I deemed this an fairly urgent and potentially debilitating problem. But also am confident that a course of antibiotics would avert a more serious issue. My medical records would suggest this.

I tried to complete econsult at approx 09.00-Econsult service was already closed. At approx 09.40 I tried to obtain a telephone consultation- Non available. I tried on line consultation via patient access- non available. I explained the problem to the receptionist in initially, a calm, rational and pleasant manner finally requesting to secure a face to face appointment on Monday. The receptionist refused to either listen or accomodate. I was instructed, very abruptly to attend crawley walk-in centre or a&e.

Given the embarassing and uncomfortable nature of the problem and (of huge relevance), the fact that I do not drive due to an eye defect currently awaiting further opthalmic surgery, and have no one available to take me this would be very tricky. This was all explained to the receptionist.Unfortunalely I was met with a very clipped and unpleasant response. She repeated her advice to go to a&e via public transport. Even if public transport was a viable option, this would require a considerable walk either end of the journey.

I do aknowledge the reduction of g.p. services and challenges this generates for both the doctors and distressed patients. But surely a little flexibility for the physically challenged and/or a smidge of human compassion costs nothing. This surgery is devoid of both. There are signs up saying that agressive behaviour toward staff will, quite rightly be deemed unaccepatable. But staff need to understand that patients are often anxious, frightened and in pain. Therefore civility should work both ways. This is a health service after all