"Visit to minor injuries with our son left us..."

My husband attended the walk in centre today with our son who is 12 years old. Our son was bitten on his ankle 2 weeks ago. It was itchy and slightly raised so we treated it at home with hydrocortisone cream and it seemed to improve. Last night our son showed us the area where his bite was and it was a large prickly heat rash including swelling of the ankle. We checked again this morning. It was now very swollen, hot to touch and the rash was now 2inches in diameter all the way around the bite and angry red. It was very clear it was infected and needed treating. A nurse assessed our son and said it was not infected and to apply cold compress and take anti-histamine. My husband said to the nurse that it is surely infected and asked for a second opinion from the doctor. The doctor walked in and glanced at our sons ankle without examining it and said nope it's not infected and dosent need antibiotics! My husband left and felt unhappy at the advice so visited Tesco pharmacy who took one look and said its definitely infected and to phone 111 who referred us to croydoc. The advanced nurse practitioner on the phone said that what we were describing sounded like an infection and that it's important our son starts antibiotics within 12 hours. We arrived at croydoc where our son couldn't have been cared for better the nurse was amazing. The nurse took one look and said its most definitely infected and prescribed antibiotics straight away! How could two trained healthcare professionals be so wrong! It's scary what they advised my husband and we are so angry that they missed such an obvious infection! I'm am seriously considering making a formal complaint. There are serious consequences if an infection is not treated appropriately. My advise Skip visiting Purley hospital minor injuries and speak to your pharmacist or phone 111.