"Poor Management of Minor Injury"

One Saturday my wife got injured while washing dishes when a 1 cm long shard of chipped glass got stuck in her palm causing a deep wound. We visited Royal Berkshire Hospital A&E on the same day and an initial x-ray confirming the glass shard firmly stuck deep. The nurses in A&E tried but were unable to take out the glass shard. They referred us to Virtual Fracture Unit instead with a callback scheduled for the Monday. 

On the Monday we received a call from Virtual Fracture Unit for an appointment in the Fracture Clinic at 16:15. When we attended the appointment, the consultant appeared not informed about the case and apparently lacked confidence to manage to wound. They looked at the x-ray only last minute and had not seen notes from A&E nurses of their attempt to manage the wound. 

The consultant told us its too late in the day (at 16:30pm given 17:30pm is home time) and they couldn't do anything. Not even ultrasound was done to get clearer idea of the glass shard stuck in palm saying the other departments are closed and blaming I was given late appointment by Virtual Fracture Unit. 

The consultant has not given any timeline on when and how this would will be treated. At one point during the conversation they mentioned it is not serious and the glass piece can stay in the palm for 5 years. This in itself is a foolish suggestion as the shard of glass possibly has razor sharp edge and cause further internal damage. In addition we can't keep my Mrs with a support sling on the hand for 5 years. All they suggested in that appointment is I should complaint to Virtual Fracture Unit for giving late appointment. They wasted working day and we were left no better that when we walked in with the glass shard still stuck in palm.

I hoped better service given its a minor injury. I wonder what would happen for more serious injuries, may god help us.