"Does the system allow too much opportunity for error?"

Difficulty in obtaining antibiotics for very swollen face on Saturday 20 June. Originally rang Emergency Dental Service at 9.15 and no dentist available for 48 hours so was advised by Dental Nurse to contact GP.

Only out of hours service available so contacted them. Screened and told to wait for another dental nurse to ring me. By afternoon no one had and my eye and nostril were being compressed with pain.

I rang again and told no record of dental nurse to call, so operator requested it again. A helpful dental nurse finally rang back and consulted team leader, who said I needed urgent antibiotics because of risk of pressure on my brain. She contacted out of hours GP and also said if I couldn't get antibiotics I was to go to A&E.

At 4.45 GP rang and prescribed antibiotics and I was told someone would ring and advise where to collect them. By 7.15 no reply, so rang again.

Clearly it had been overlooked, as they rang back 5 mins later advising me to go to chemist some distance away in Bradford. Fortunately, I had someone to fetch them. This was by now 11 hours later.

As a result of this delay, I ended up with a further swelling and over 2 weeks later the infection remains. As my general health was not great at the time having Bronchiectasis and a fall, I needed attention.

I consider the system allows too much opportunity for error and had things been more serious I would have ended up in A&E which I was trying to avoid.