"hit and miss service"

Anything else?

I have been meaning to have general sexual health check-up for a while now, so decided on my first day off this year to plan a visit. I first tried to find some information online about the services available in Ipswich - however most of the main website links that appear after seraching 'Ipswich sexual health clinic' have become redundant after the introduction of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. This made it difficult to actually see opening times and services available. Nonetheless, after finding a telephone number I rang the sexual health clinic to check whether there were any appointments available, to which there wasn't but I was told there is a walk-in clinic. I got ready and made my way by public transport, arriving at 9:30am to the clinic after having rang at 8:45am. I was then told that there were no appointments available and that I couldn't be seen. Now I understand that this is only a walk in service, but to be told on the phone 45 minutes before arriving that this service was avialable and not arriving exactly late in the morning I was a little annoyed/frustrated. I work Mon-Fri and therefore the only time I can visit the clinic is when I have time off, which is very rare. Therefore I feel a bit hard done by and that this service was not as helpful as it could be. I have wasted half of my day off and now will only be able to visit whenever I can get some time off, having to pay again for travel (totalling £7 with another visit). I'm writing this as I would just like to bring this to you're attention,mainly because if the circumstances were different- i.e an individual had gained the courage to visit and is now put off or was in need of immeadiate treatment but didn't understand the risk of waiting (E.g, PEP treatment) then the services I experienced would have failed that individual. I know the NHS services are stretched and are doing the best they can, but I just feel a bit hard done by, as a tax payer who works full time and then let down on the only time I could visit, whereas perhaps other individuals are abusing the system. *there is no option to select sexual health department*