"How to keep your customers away"

After calling 111 I was advised to visit a primary care source within 2 hours. I traveled to Welwyn Urgent care facility, about 30 minutes by car.

The Triage was shocking. I explained my symptoms - severe bloating / constipation and the worry that I had eaten something bad two days before. Also that I was in considerable pain - which had become worse.

There was no attempt to explain what might be wrong with me, just the question Do you want some paracetamol?

I wasn’t told what diagnosis had been made - or even not to be too worried. There was no explanation that this was the end of my visit - I was just told where the water was.

So I left having no idea what was wrong with me, having been given something I would have happily purchased myself and saved the journey. 4 hours later I feel no better and I don’t know what to expect.

I think I need to go on a course to help me to use the correct approach - perhaps upping your pain scale number helps?

I guess I can google my symptoms next time and have a go at self diagnosis - at least then I might not feel as though I was being looked down upon.

I won’t call 111 again, and Welwyn has seen the last one of me. Interestingly - I’ve never had this experience in my local area.