"A&E . A very bad day"

I was sent over to A&E from the foot clinic because my toes were ulcerated  and very red, the person who was treating me was very concerned about this and gave me a letter to see a doctor for him to look at my toes and give me some antibiotics because she said my toes could go blue.

I gave the reception my letter and all was fine until I went to see the nurse who takes your details and then she will give you the go ahead to see a doctor. She took the letter from me and said why have they sent you over to A&E you need to see vascular not us. I said I was told by the foot clinic to come over because there were no doctors to look at my foot and give me antibiotics, she said you have come for antibiotics, I said that why I was sent over to you.

She then phone the foot clinic and was very sharp with them on the phone saying he doesn't need to be with us, he needs vascular. The person who she was speaking to didn't know what was going on and said to the nurse, I don't know who sent him to you, he shouldn't be over there with you. This was relade back to me in a very abrupt manner. She said its up to you if you want to see a doctor and then it up to you.

I did see a doctor who made me undress my foot myself without gloves and with much discomfort because I have spine problems and mobility problems caused through neuropathy, I then sat holding the dressing in my hand while he looked at my toes. He then said they have sent you here just for antibiotics, I said and for you to look at my foot. He just looked at it and said it don't look to bad, although at this time my toes were very red and going blue. He said I will give you some antibiotics and was about to leave when I said can you get someone to dress my foot, I was afraid that I would have to go home on the bus without it been dressed. A few minutes later a nurse came in and said are you ready to go home, I said yes I'm ready can you dress my toes. She said what do they put on it? I said just a dressing, she then said we have no dressings, she then said we don't do dressings here, she said I will have to see what I can find, she came back with a large pad dressings that I think they would use for to stop the bleeding. She taped it up and said can you get it dressed better tomorrow only it is only a make do dressing while she was dressing my foot she didn't wear any gloves because of the trouble with the tape.

I went home feeling that I was a time waster, although it wasn't my desion to go to A&E, if it was left to me I would had never gone and sorry I did. I have great service and care from the foot clinic and the orthotic  department but through this experience I don't ever want to go to Sandwell A&E ever again.