"I do not understand the delay"

The following feedback was received by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust via an online Have Your Say survey:

I called the 111 service for advice on if I should go to A&E or attend the EPAU unit as I had abdominal pain in early pregnancy and I was advised that I would get a call back from a clinician (no specification regarding a nurse/healthcare assistant/doctor) within an hour.

I waited an hour and a half and my pain was increasing and no call back had been received so my husband drove me to A&E. I was in the A&E department for an hour and a half and as my phone was on silent I did not hear a call back.

By this time I had been asked to return to the hospital for a scan but no resolution to the pain and more worry as the potential of an ectopic pregnancy.

I received a call from the clinician at the out of hours service who I informed of what I had done given no call, and I was asked to go through everything that had been discussed, when I was then informed I could possibly be in the early stages of a miscarriage and therefore to just wait and see.

At no stage had anyone suggested this (although I do understand that an ectopic pregnancy would require surgical removal and loss of pregnancy) but it was very upsetting to be advised this after A&E had reassured me and my husband enough for us to be able to rest.

I do not understand the delay of nearly 3 hours for the initial call back.

I doubt if personally use the service again.