"Advice from 111 service"

I had attempted to get a Drs appointment on 2 occasions within a week, without success. As I was going on holiday I needed advice so phoned 111. After answering a series of questions, I was diagnosed as having a heart attack. I do have pain in my arms but the "telephonist" refused to listen to why. The reason being that I had pulled a muscle whilst doing a workout! She immediately summoned the ambulance and insisted that I take 280gms aspirin whilst she hung on the phone. A first on scene arrived who took basic tests, followed by 3 ambulance men who gave me an ECG and various tests. They contacted out of hours doctor who gave me tablets for an ulcer.

I was just feeling under the weather and I felt very guilty that 4 professionals had wasted time on me when another patient was seriously ill. All I expected was advice, as the previous nhs direct would have given me. I feel that the telephonists are only reading through a series of questions, do not listen, and consequently precious time was wasted by the ambulance service.

The medical professionals were a credit to the NHS, but not 111 service