"Disgusted with Triage Nurse A&E Department"

I visited the A&E department today at Southport Monday 12 March.

Receptionist was fine, taking all my details etc. of a suspected broken finger ? which I did towards the end of summer last year.

When the accident occurred I was under the impression I had just badly bruised it and I was waiting for it to heal.

Unfortunately my finger has not recovered and I thought A&E would be the place to visit with this type of injury as it was an ACCIDENT.

I avoided going to the hospital sooner with all the flu and other infections going around.

Anyway today was the day I decided I must get my finger checked as it was not getting any better.

So when I was called into Triage by one of the nurses, she basically verbally attacked me - telling me I should have gone to the GP - had I not seen the television and did I not know how busy they were!.

She said Fingers and Knees should be seen by a GP and she was clearly very agitated.

I explained that I obviously had got the process wrong and I didn't realise the GP was the place to go with this type of injury as I thought I would have been sent to A&E for an X Ray anyway?.

With this verbal attack from her I left the Triage room feeling quite upset and bemused so I decided to leave the A & E dept without being seen.

I didn't feel I could face any further attack from her or anyone else over my visit.

I basically felt as though I had committed a crime in going to A&E.

Once I got home I telephoned my GP practice to get a GP appointment and told the receptionist that I wasn't sure whether I needed a GP appt or a referral to X Ray.

She said A&E was probably the best place for me to go.

I then explained to her what had happened to me this morning at A&E and she was quite shocked with what I told her.

I have only been to A&E once before, a long time ago for myself, and do not feel I want to step back in there ever again.

I never complain about anything usually but this has really rattled me.

I intend to put this in writing and await your comments. I hope this Triage nurse does not verbally attack anyone else today and she clearly does not understand everybody's circumstances.

I thought nurses were paid to give care - not abuse.

I now have a GP appointment this week - so hopefully they can help me not attack me!!