A MUM has hit out at Horwich doctors for ‘refusing’ to treat her son after his knee became infected.

Nicola Morris-Oliver accused the NHS of wasting money when she was directed to A&E by her GP surgery rather than being offered an appointment.

The 43-year-old from Heaton spent the day trying to get a doctor at Kildonan House to see her nine-year-old son, eventually resorting to an out-of-hours GP in the evening when her own practice did nothing to help.

Under the Bolton Quality Contract, the town’s GP practices are committed to providing same day assessment for all children under 12.

Mrs Morris-Oliver believes her practice failed to meet the commitment.

She explains: “I think it is ridiculous that my own GP surgery refused to see my son and advise I go to A&E with an infected grazed knee.

“The appointment at the out of hours doctors took less than 5 minutes, the wound was looked at and a prescription for an antibiotic cream prescribed. I’m sure that the NHS could save money and time if appointments like what my son needed was carried out more effectively. “

Mrs Morris-Oliver noticed the cut, caused after a fall in the school playground the week before, was red and tender last Tuesday.

After falling to get an appointment at the practice that morning, the family visited a pharmacists who confirmed it could be infected and advised ringing the GP back.

Calling before it closed, a receptionist passed on her concerns to a duty doctor before returning with a message to go to A&E.

She adds: “I apologised to the out of hours GP because I felt like I was taking up an appointment that could go to someone who needed it more.

“I don’t think the infection called for A&E, that’s why our GP’s are there, for situations like this.”

Practice manager Alison Critchley they couldn’t comment on individual cases but endeavoured to see all children on the day unless it was felt to be more appropriate for them to be seen elsewhere.

Dr Stephen Liversedge, clinical director for Primary Care and Health Improvement at NHS Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group, explained that a same day assessment for children under 12 may be a telephone conversation with a doctor or nurse initially, followed by a face to face appointment if needed.

He added: “If patients are unhappy with the service they receive from their GP practice, we advise them in the first instance, to discuss this directly with the practice.

“Patients can also share their feedback with the CCG if they are not happy with the explanation given by their practice.”