"Upsetting appointment"

I had an appointment for an ENT assessment at Bangor Community Clinic, this is not where I normally go but with the Covid restrictions I was asked to attend this clinic instead. I have very very bad balance due to a perforated ear drum and cannot attend the appointment alone. I asked my friend to take me and come with me to help. We left my house at 2pm for what should have been a 20-minute journey but we got lost, drove round in circles before eventually finding the clinic. I realised I was very late for my appointment and assumed that I wouldn’t be seen but I wanted to explain the reason and hopefully get another appointment sorted.

At first we couldn’t find anyone to speak with and waited until finally we saw someone in a white coat, I assume they were a nurse and they directed us to the basement of the building where there was a waiting area. Again, we sat for about ten minutes before I attempted to find someone. It was so different from my normal hospital, very confusing. Eventually a someone came along and I explained that I was late for my appointment as we had got lost on the journey.

They went away and spoke with someone but returned and told us to go round to the audiology department and that someone would see us there which we did. I was feeling quite off balance with all the moving around.

We sat for a while when we heard someone stomping down the corridor towards us. This person came across to us and opened the door to a small brightly lit room and told me to go in there. I stood up too quickly and couldn’t get by balance and again the bright lights affected me. They told me to sit down and was quite stern, I tried to apologise and explain that I needed to get my balance before I could sit as I was likely to fall off the chair if not. They glared at me and shouted at me to sit. I told them that I couldn’t just at the moment and that I didn’t like their attitude. They wouldn’t give me a chance to explain.

They then flung open the door shouting they were going to go and get a witness.

My friend who was sat outside the room heard this and came to check I was okay.

They returned with someone else and said I had shouted at them, I said I hadn’t I was trying to explain why I couldn’t just get up then sit down etc. I was in a balance clinic afterall.

They told us they were aborting the appointment – who uses words like that?

I would have been happy to apologise for my lateness but they didn’t give me a chance.

This was all deeply disturbing, I am just recovering from a cancer operation and very recently my husband died.

My friend and I went to leave when another nurse could see I was visibly upset. They gave me a glass of water and I told them what had happened. They didn’t know the other person but she gave me a telephone number to call.

I left but am so shocked and traumatised by this experience. I don’t have a follow up appointment and today, a day later, I am still emotionally crying after this experience.