"Croydon A&E and 111"

I have a foot ulcer and was worried about it due to redness of my foot.

I dialled 111 and was promptly given a referral to a doctor who prescribed an anti biotic and told me to get an opinion from a Registrar in A & E. I declined to do so due to known long waits at the A & E (it was then 10pm). and went home.

Four days later I went to A & E due to renewed worry that I had possible gangrene.

I waited two hours and was then called forward to triage where I had my BP, Oxygen, temperature and blood sugar level checked. The nurse declined to remove my dressing. I returned to the waiting area.

After a further two hours wait I asked reception what the situation was and was told to enter the treatment zone and enquire.

I did so and was told I could expect further delay.

I had an appointment with the podiatrist early that day, as it was 1a m and the appointment with the podiatrist was then only eight hours away, I left for home.

The podiatrist confirmed the presence of gangrene at the tip of the toe and removed it (debrided it? ).

The wait in A & E was exactly as I feared- long and on not very comfortable seating in a draughty room with the drone of a drinks vending machine.

In my opinion the department was clearly overloaded with real accidents and people with real claims on the attention of the staff. The cubicles in the treatment area were full of people and there was a constant to and fro of ambulance staff. All in all frustrating.