I get that a&e is busy, but was not expecting to be spoken to so rudely

For goodness sake @Easterchicken and other PPs. The OP was TOLD to go to A&E by her GP.

@mitsicar I hope you have got this sorted and are recovering.

You definitely didn't need to go to a and e

At a push a walk in especially if it has been in there a while

People take the mick at a and e going for absolutely nothing cases like this, and you often see entire families there like it's a jolly day out

Firstly OP wasn’t in A&E. The triage nurse was minor injuries and the only reason she was ‘stressed’ was because there was a long waiting list. OP also said that she didn’t let her finish what she was saying about having a simple earache and only discovering the foreign body the previous day. Had she not interrupted she would possibly have had a different opinion based on actual fact, not supposition - isn’t fact what’s needed when taking a medical history ?

Secondly, her own GP directed her back to A&E the following morning - as many posters with medical experience have said here, most GP’s are not set up for this sort of thing and will refer to whatever other services they have available in their area. In OP’s case A&E, so entirely appropriate that that’s where she should have gone in the first place, as she was subsequently sent through to minor injuries.

We know the NHS is on it’s knees and we know staff are overworked, but there is absolutely no excuse for an HCP to be so rude and dismissive of a patient that they leave without treatment. Yes, the decision to leave was on OP but it’s hardly surprising having been treated so badly just for having the temerity to ask for help. And now it appears that the condition is much worse, so treatment is likely to take longer and cost more. Looking at what else can be done now, I’d suggest that the route for appropriate care be made much clearer and more easily and quickly accessible for those who need it, instead of blaming the patient for a system that is clearly broken.

As a doctor - GP and have worked in A&E/still do odd extra shifts, I actually dont think you did anything wrong. GPs would refer to A&E or direct to ENT if possible depending on your local area services, majority of GPs wouldnt manage this. FB in early is very common A&E presentation.

There's no need for nurse to be rude. Yes we are all over worked & stressed but doesn't mean be rude to patients.

111 is useless. Most drs I know hate & dont trust the service. Its advice is scripted by non medical staff & there threshold for referral to A&E is ridiculously low, however again this is not the patients fault. Ive seen many patients who said i never considered coming to A&E for whatever their complaint was however 111 told me I must immediately (and was always something minor non urgent ). Again thats government/ NHS issue managing resources poorly rather than patient.

There are loads of time wasters in A&E, GP and everywhere in healthcare unfortunately but this isnt a example.
Hope you get it sorted. Minor injuries is perfect place to get this sorted. Only alternative is GP if they have local same/next day clinic to refer to which varies across uk7

Ok as a nurse practitioner with 30 yrs A&E/UCC experience and now work in GP practice, I know how to remove a foreign body (FB) from an ear and it’s all about having the right equipment. Most GP’s don’t have the equipment or expertise to remove an FB and wouldn’t attempt it unless it was easily retrieved with simple forceps. You’d think removing a FB was easy but sometimes it isn’t, depends on what it is, there isn’t much room in there and the walls of the ear canal are very sensitive and can be damaged really easily. So actually the best place to do this is usually A&E/UCC/MIU and may need ENT to recover it. Some FB’s sit in the ear for years without people knowing about them but if they’re causing infection then they must be removed. The triage nurse who you spoke to has probably never had to remove a FB and yes they’re busy but they had no right talking to you like that.

It isn’t a GP matter. I had the same issue with an earring back stuck in my ear and the GP refused to even touch me and sent me to A&E, where the triage nurse numbed my ear and removed it in about a minute (after waiting for hours because, yes, minor!). OP was in exactly the right place with the right person, who by being finicky has wasted everyone’s time and maybe increased OP’s risk of side-effects.

I hope things are sorted now OP.

Our GP surgery is known for being overstretched and we recently had an influx of 2000 odd new homes built in a series of huge estates with no corresponding infrastructure. The surgery pretty much sends everyone to A&E because they can't cope - they are known for it and when you turn up to A&E and say what surgery you are under you are just met with eye rolling from the staff because they are fed up with it too. It's all quite wrong and I know everyone who works in the system is just wrecked by it.

A and E will see all sorts. From critical emergencies to someone coming in because they couldn't get a GP appointment for a minor ailment.

The OP has already said that she was advised to go to A and E through 111 and other people who are medically trained- she did the right thing based on the advice she was given.

However, nobody actually knows what else that particular nurse had to deal with that day. Just think of other possibilities that came through that triage and what may lead an A and E nurse or doctor to feel they need to vent when someone has not sought medical attention for a few days (I understand the OP's predicament) and then come in.

This professional was perhaps a little stressed and frustrated and possibly feels themselves that they could have communicated their message of "this isnt urgent" to the OP much better, but they're human. It's happened. They probably don't feel they handled it that well, or maybe they do because they truly believe that compared to the rest of the cases in clinic at that particular time, it would have been better to not go to A and E. Who knows?

Yes, it probably was rude - but could you do that job? I know I couldn't and I know the stress and emotional stress would be my main reason which is why I'm saying it isn't a great reaction, but I can understand it. Let's look at what else can be done now. 😊

If you want it removed - understandable just be prepared to wait as most other A&E cases will get triaged and placed ahead of you.

Don’t worry I had a consultant say I shouldn’t have called paramedics after having a reaction to an infusion. I had a mews of 5. I told I didn’t ring them 111 did as I had chest pain. I binned him after being in contact with PALS. He was a twat.

You should have stayed despite her rudeness; but equally you could have seen your gp before this point! Why did you wait for it to become so bad before you sought any medical help?! Next time you have pain, go to your gp when it begins! Xo

She did.
About 16 hours ago 😂

I’m a GP. We don’t have the equipment to remove deep foreign bodies. Please go back to minor injuries/urgent care.

I really would consider filling a complaint.
It doesn’t matter what sort of day she’d had, you were suffering and needed to be seen. Her attitude made you leave and prolonged your suffering!
I do hope the proceedure went well and you’re ok @mitsicar

@mitsicar hope you’re okay

Also my gp is a 4 week wait for an appointment. So I would absolutely be at minor injuries.

Oh I’m so sick of being told to be grateful to the nhs and its staff. Let’s face it, most of us hate our jobs but because we’re not ‘overworked and underpaid, saving lives’- ha! 13 hr shift with no break for me this week, we don’t get a pass to be rude. They receive decent perks, including fantastic holiday allowance etc. if they don’t like it, they could move on.
I don’t think you were wrong op. Hope you get it sorted soon.

I don’t know about the rest of you however in our local A&E to be seen in minor injuries the wait is 3 times longer with a GP referral.
That hardly encourages anyone to try and get a GP appointment, wait to have that only to then be sent on to hospital anyway.
Not to mention only being able to get an appointment with your GP at a certain time in the morning if you’re lucky!
The woman was rude. You should have told her you followed advice from 2 different doctors one on 111. I hope you get it sorted soon @mitsicar

Hope you're doing ok @mitsicar and not still sat on an A&E hard seat waiting!
Wishing you all the best and hope the ear has been fixed.

I don't think ✨the nurse✨ @ThisZanyPinkSquid is going to return to answer this question as to where she should have gone after the GP told her no.

Come on....surprise me...

@mitsicar please tell us it’s out now OP, I’ve been worrying about you! I hope you’re ok!

Another one who hasn't read the thread.....

W us minor injuries includes most breaks… Poor you OP. I think you should just have stayed! As evidently you do too now! Hearing isn’t to be messed with. Hope it’s ok now

Have you tried using a magnet?

@GentlePanda takes the prize for the most infuriating post of many that are quite infuriating enough. GP sent her to A&E, it was an accident that became an emergency due to terrible delays, risk of infection, hear loss