"Poor care"

I attended with concern about tissue infection from some bites on my ankles, which were extremely swollen. The wounds were weeping and there was a reddened area across the foot which was hot and I was struggling to weight near.

Before entering I was asked if I was experiencing any Covid19 symptoms, which I was not. I provided a history and whilst doing so my temperature was taken.

My temperature was 38.2, so I was told immediately to leave and recommended that I book in for a Covid test. I queried my concerns about infection and both medics queried whether either had touched the area by way of examination. They both acknowledged they hadn’t, but said they looked absolutely fine and the priority was to book a Covid19 test and self isolate.

My temperature rose further through night, but dropped the following morning. My ankle pain has worsened and I was unable to put any weight on one foot at all.

I attended A&E where they identified immediately that the there was progressive cellulitis that required immediate treatment with anti-biotic, as left untreated it could develop into sepsis.

Whilst I appreciate we in the midst of a pandemic (and I went for a test as a precaution), it was clear that my high temperature triggered a Covid concern, when the situation in front of the medics was one where infection was the obvious explanation for the high temperature.

The visit was also shortly before closing, which I was reminded of, and the exact words used were “you’ve got a temperature, so the best advice we can give is to get away from us as quickly as you can and also go and get yourself tested and self-isolate.”

Had I relied upon the advice, I would not have sought further medical advice and would have remained at home for 10 days whilst infection spread in my body.

Trying to relieve the burden from the front line professionals in A&E was not beneficial to me, or them, on this occasion. Advice from the A&E professionals was to “walk past the walk-in” in future and go straight to them. Sound advice, I think!