"Did not receive compassionate care"

I attended my GP surgery due to recurring styes and an eye infection. My GP surgery were brilliant, they saw me immediately, referred me to the eye clinic to see a consultant and prescribed me antibiotics.

Later that day at about 3pm I received a call from the eye clinic stating that they felt I definitely needed to be seen that day as an emergency, however, the clinic was full. The caller advised that I attend at 5pm to be triaged by a nurse and then wait for an on call doctor. They stated that I would need someone with me as I would be given eye drops and would be unable to drive home afterwards, therefore my husband and young daughter had to come to the hospital with me.

On arrival, the nurses were lovely and I was triaged immediately. I then had to wait over two hours for the on call doctor despite them being aware of my appointment.

When the doctor called me into the consultation room, they stated that they didn’t understand why the GP had referred me and that I didn’t need to be there. I felt  they were rude, dismissive and  not listening to what I was saying. It was as though they did not want to be there. They stated that they felt the prescribed antibiotics were all I needed but then suggested I go to A&E. I questioned this, asking them, as a specialist eye doctor, if they felt I did not need to be in this clinic, why did I need to go to A&E?

I did not receive eye drops and therefore my husband and daughter had waited around the hospital for no reason. I was in the consultation room for less than 5 minutes and people in the waiting room commented about the quick turnaround. I felt quite belittled and certainly did not receive compassionate care.

Today, I received a call asking me to attend another appointment at the eye clinic, a follow up had not been mentioned so I wonder if they realised I did not receive the care I felt I should have done.