"Terrible doctor, thank for nurses."

Contacted 111 after having had a little fall on a camping trip that left me with what I thought might be a broken toe and some muscle damage that had left me with a lot of pain while walking, loss of full range of motion and bad limp.

I did not want to go to the George Eliot Hospital due to bad experiences friends and family had had previously and knowing there’s not much that can be done for a broken toe anyway.

Doctor looked at my leg for a total of 2 seconds before saying “you’re fine” without even looking me in the eye and starting to walk out. Had to shout him back to even get chance to point out my toe. Eventually got an X ray and some kind of explanation as to why my doctor wasn’t concerned with my inability to walk properly from a wonderful nurse and the radiologist was also fantastic.

Now, at this point I’m comfortable that I will heal and I have nothing to worry about but I work in care and have a 12 hour shift ahead of me tomorrow that I know for certain my workplace will not let me self certify for due to the NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE of carers and therefore would have liked a certificate or at the very least have the opportunity to ask for one. But the doctor was too busy talking over me I don’t think he heard a word I said the whole time I was there. In fact, he left the room while I was speaking to him without saying a word… the only reason I knew I was good to go was because I heard him tell a nurse. “Mr Jones is leaving now” I had to try and find my own way out of the ward since the doctor couldn’t even manage to tell me I could leave. The doctor eventually noticed me wandering the corridor, laughed at me and said “oh you must be new around here”.

I understand the NHS is struggling at the moment just like every other health service, but the NHS mantra is all about compassion and I sat on the steps of A&E tonight crying because the doctor made me feel totally irrelevant in my own treatment.