"Urgent care...I think not!"

My husband spoke to 111 on my behalf,I suffer from asthma and I was very breathless. The doctor from 111 told me they were contacting hemel urgent care and that we should head there straight away for a nebulizer. We would have to wait to see a doctor but the nebulizer would be ready for my arrival.

Arrived at urgent care,my husband went to the receptionist,gave my details and explained the situation. We were told to take a seat. He explained again that I needed a nebulizer urgently and that the doctor had arranged for this to happen. The receptionist pointed to the seats and said I told you take a seat. I was still very breathless. The receptionist did not move to inform anyone that I had arrived and refused to acknowledge what my husband was telling them.

We Arrived at 5:30. I was seen at 7:10. By the time I was seen by the doctor (who was appalled that had been left in that state) my sat were at 82 and my peak flow was below 250..all it took to improve my breathing was a nebulizer,which took 15 minutes,in an empty room. This is what should have happened when I arrived,not almost 2 hours later.

It is unbelievable that someone that has obvious breathing problems is left in a waiting room for almost 2 hours because a receptionist thinks they are more equipped to make a decision than a doctor. All they had to do was let someone know that I had arrived then I could have had my nebulizer and gone back into the waiting area to wait to see the doctor for my prescription of steroids and antibiotics