"6 hour wait for nothing"

Visited A&E today, 4 June, with a suspected DVT in my left leg following a long haul flight 2 weeks ago. Reported that I had had pain in my calf for two days and today I noticed swelling in the calf.

Arrived at 2.45pm and there were around 12 patients in the waiting room.

Was seen by a very surly, uninterested, triage nurse at 4.00pm.

Around 7.00pm an NHS Nurse, complete with NHS lanyard came in with their daughter, who in no way seemed seriously ill. Yet they were seen and had gone within 30 minutes!!

It was extremely hot in the tiny waiting room and having been sat in my wheelchair for hours, my feet were very swollen and painful. At 8.00pm my husband asked at reception how much longer we would have to wait to see a Doctor.

He was told there were 3 people before us.

At 8.45pm I went to reception to ask the same question and was given the same answer, 3 people before us.

So no one had been seen by a Doctor in 45 minutes!!!

We spoke to the senior Nurse and asked if there was actually a Doctor there.

They waffled about experienced Nurses who could handle some of the cases but would not confirm if there was a Doctor present.

After well over 6 hours in a cramped, overheated joke of a waiting room, we left without seeing a Doctor.

I felt exhausted and ill but couldn't have waited another hour or two (or maybe even 3) to see a Doctor.

I am 63 years old and have various medical conditions and have probably been to A&E maybe 3 times in my life, but I would rather be ill than go through that debacle again.

This isn't the NHS that my husband and I have worked hard to pay towards all our working lives.

It's just a shambles and a disgrace.