"Urgent Care Service"

I was put through to the Urgent Care Service from NHS24 due to exacerbation in my asthma. I was given a call by a nurse practitioner who's role was obviously to determine whether I required an appointment. The call lasted 13 mins and throughout that whole time I felt like I was being patronised by the nurse. They kept saying I could be offered an appointment, but I should really be waiting for my own practice to open. This was despite me having a tight chest and feeling like I could not breathe when moving. They then told me it wasn't urgent care's place to diagnose asthma, by which I then had to interrupt their lecture to tell them I do have a diagnosis. I was then questioned why I don't take a daily inhaler and that its unusual for a GP practice to leave an asthma patient without one. Yet again I felt I had to defend myself. I was then lectured on the poor service being delivered by some GP's on managing their asthma patients - all fine and good but not what you want to hear when you are struggling to breathe! 

I opted to take an appointment but actually felt guilty taking the appointment. I attended my appointment later that night and was seen by a lovely nurse practitioner and was given medication which has improved my symptoms. 

I actually work for the NHS and would not take an appointment without really needing it. I find it worrying that this is the reception anyone can get when seeking help and some people might have opted not to take an appointment when they might have needed treatment. No one should be made to feel like this because they have called for help when unwell and am disappointed that this nurse felt this was an acceptable way to speak to someone.