"Poor Reception Processes"

Trying to get an urgent appointment is extremely difficult. On contacting I was offered an appointment in 3 days for an acute, urgent medical issue! I was told that I would be contacted if there were any cancellations. We contacted again as I really could not wait and the practice manager again told us that there was no way I could be seen. She demanded to know what was wrong and made a judgement about whether I could wait to be seen! (I do not believe her to be medically qualified to do so and even if she were, it is impossible to diagnose over the phone!!) There was suddenly an appointment available for the next day, but I was genuinely too ill to wait. Eventually, after a lot of argument, she informed us that she would speak to a GP and around 2 hours later, I was given a "cancellation" appointment for 4pm that day. On examination, I have a very serious throat infection and the doctor advised me that it needed immediate treatment - I am also running a significant temperature (40 degrees when examined). Had I not persevered in my attempt to gain an appointment, my condition could have become very serious indeed. The receptionists / practice manager should not have the power to make clinical judgements