"wouldn't be given appointment for a sore eye"

foreign body in eye. Went to optician after the eye became very sore, red and blurred. At 71 and rarely seen a doctor at my surgery for years, tried to make emergency appointment after visiting optician, who suggested the eye might need more attention than they could give, as there was both damage and infection.

phoned surgery and was told I had to go back to optician to provide a written report, before I would be given an appointment.

So there is me with a very sore eye, in pain, not one to make a fuss or constantly at the doctors,needing to have to return to optician to get report. I was less than happy. Our eyes are precious!

I phoned the optician, asking advice, to avoid the driving.They suggested I went straight to A&E, which I did.

The eye was accessed and deemed very badly scratched due to foreign body and was given quite strong antibiotics to deal with that and infection.

The staff at A&E couldn't have been more sympathetic and helpful!

Don't understand why someone at the surgery *duty doctor) would not give me an emergency appointment without written opticians report,

They could easily have phoned optician, who could have provided whatever information needed to enable appointment.

Was very upset and having to go to A&E, seemed very insensitive and unhelpful and unnecessary.

We are told not to go to A&E if not deemed necessary.

Very disappointed with surgery on this occasion.