Dalston Medical Group 2016-10-01 Person 1 5 0

I registered for an emergency appoinment as I took ill while on holiday. Having only been discharged from 3 weeks ago I woke up knowing I had a repeat infection in my throat (previously untreated I ended up having emergency surgery on my throat only 3 weeks earlier). I went to Dalston surgery at 9.30am Thursday 29th Sept in person to wait for an emergency appointment, as I had been told that if I showed any symtoms of my throat swelling to get antibiotics straight away to fight off further infection. I met a very abrupt unpleasant receptionist who said I should call my own doctors for antibiotics. I explained that I had to see a doctor as needed to know how far my infection had progressed as I knew if it was bad I would need to cut my holiday short and travel home. She explained that all the morning appointments had gone but if I came back at 12 o clock they would have an appointment for me. I left and returned at 12pm as suggested only to be met by the same rude receptionist who said I could see a doctor at 3pm. I left again and as instructed I returned at 3pm to see a doctor. By now I was starting to feel quite unwell and could feel my throat was very swollen and I was struggling to swallow. The morning receptionist had gone home and to my horror I was told she hadnt booked me an appointment and I wouldnt get to see a doctor until 4pm. I was furious as I am in no doubt the receptionist knew in the morning that she hadnt even booked me in but knew she wouldnt be there when I went back. I then had to sit in the waiting room until 4.45pm, so just short of 2 hours, to get to see a doctor, who incidently was very helpful, thorough and professional. I needed an emergency appointment and appreciate that sometimes there is a wait but a 7 hour wait is unacceptable and the way and manner in which your receptionists dealt with me was unacceptable. After the stress of the ordeal and the fact that I was feeling very unwell I decided to cut my holiday short by 10 days as I knew if I would need to go back to hospital I would be near home. Just to make you aware of how poorly I actually was, on my way home my tonsil ruptured with an untreated absess which is exactly what put me in hospital 3 weeks earlier. I am not sure whether this is just an automatic survey but I would like a response to your findings on this totally unacceptable experience