"Fantastic wound care by the nurses at the doctors"

I'm a insulin dependent diabetic and about a month ago I began to develop large water blisters on the surface of my left foot and all around my ankle. I tried to care for it at home but it quickly became obvious that it was something that needed professional help.

I tried to get a Dr's appointment and was told I needed to go to the Johnson (Spalding) which wasn't an option because I could barely walk and struggle with getting out of my house. I ended up calling 111 as I was becoming worried the wounds were becoming infected. 111 told me to call my Dr and tell them that 111 had referred me to them and I needed to speak to a Dr within 2 hrs. Again I was told to go to the Johnson.

I then asked if they could get me in the next day for a telephone call with a Dr and the member of staff I spoke to told me in a rude manner that that would only happen if I came down to the surgery. I had to send my partner at 7:30am the following morning to get me on the emergency list. They requested I sent in pictures which I sent. I waited all day to have a phone call with a Dr who don't even speak to me for more than 2 mins. They told me that they couldn't deal with me and that I needed to be in hospital.

I called 999 for an ambulance at 5pm and it arrived at 8am the following day (no shade to them they had real emergencies to deal with). The paramedics were really lovely and checked me over. Because I wasn't feeling ill or showing any signs of serious infection and because I was adamant that I was nowhere near ill enough to need to be in a hospital, which the paramedics agreed with, we arranged a plan for them to contact my doctors to get them to prescribe me antibiotics and to arrange for the nurses at the Dr's to see me that evening to clean and dress my wounds.

I've been going in every other day and have been very happy with the treatment I have received from all the nurses that have treated me. Emily, Lizzie, Eleanor, Imogen and especially Becky, who has looked after me the most have been so lovely and have taken great care of me. I couldn't have wished for greater service.

It's such a shame that the service from the reception team and the Dr wasn't anywhere near as excellent as the service given to me by the 111 operator, the paramedics and the wonderful nurses that have looked after me. They could definitely take a leaf out of the nurses book. I wasn't ever looked down upon or spoken rudely to or about like I was by the reception team at the Dr's. There were at least 4 occasions where I'd received this response in the week leading up to me calling 111 and 999. I made it very clear to them I'm an insulin dependant diabetic. I also made them aware that in 2021 and 2022 I was hospitalised with Sepsis, DKA and AKI (which was also a result of the Dr's refusing me treatment).

I personally feel that with my medical history, every effort should've been made to get me an appointment so I could be given a course of antibiotics. It would have saved me having to call 111 and 999 and take up time that could be given to serious health emergencies. I feel there is much improvement needed with the reception team and the Dr's, but I cannot fault the care received from the nurses.