"Last Thurdsay 14th Aug 2008, whilst ..."

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Last Thurdsay 14th Aug 2008, whilst visiting a farm in Buckfastleigh, I cut my index finger (right hand) whilst sawing down a tree. My finger bled profusely and had a very deep cut. It was around 15:30pm in the afternoon. My partner bandaged it tight, but later, as it was still very painful, I thought "it's been a long long time since I had a tenenus jab, maybe I should call the hospital". My partner called the MIU at "Ashburton and Buckfastleigh" Hospital at around 5:35pm. The nurse who answered informed her that they closed at 6pm, so we dashed to the above hospital, and were received at around 5:48pm. The nurse we spoke to told us that we had to go to either Totness or Newton Abbott because "I leave at 6pm". I told her that the times on the door said closing at 6pm. She was less than helpful and insisted that she has to leave at 6pm. After noticing that I was looking at her badge (I really was most upset that she was not honouring the public times written on the entrance door) she relented and decided to see me. "I suppose my dogs will just have to cross their legs" she said. My partner and I were dumbfounded. I had an injury (at that time the nurse nor I knew how bad that injury was) and she was more interested in getting back 10mins late to service her dogs! (she lived locally she told us). I am writing because it was obvious from her behavior that this lady did not particularly enjoy being questioned re. my insistence that I was within the public service times. The hospital is a small community hospital

and I shudder to think of some poor soul being turned away - because a dog had to cross it's legs".

My partner witnessed the whole proceedings, and , to put it mildly, was "Totally Disgusted"

Yours

Mr Hugh Colgan

So far I have not informed the local papers, but I feel that as, a public citizen, I am totally within my rights to do so.