A PENSIONER is angry and upset after being turned away from a GP practice in Evesham.

Elizabeth Cole had been driving past Riverside Surgery on May 30 when she suddenly experienced severe chest pain and pain in her left arm. 

She then decided to pop into the GP practice to see if she could get her blood pressure checked and asked for help. 

Mrs Cole said: "In the waiting room there was one person at the reception desk and two receptionists, I waited until the one patient left and explained my symptoms to the receptionist

"She then asked if I was a patient of theirs to which I replied no, she then informed me that they could/would not treat nor help me. 

"I was shocked and I couldn't believe it."

According to the 70-year-old, she was then told to go to her GP which was ten miles away, or to drive herself to the nearest A&E or to call an ambulance.

She was then apparently offered to see a doctor before that offer was swiftly redacted, however she was then told that Evesham Hospital had a minor injuries unit.

Mrs Cole continued: "At this point, I said I thought doctors were supposed to help people.

"It was awful, I was left feeling very alone and isolated, I'm quite sure that if I had stopped anyone in the street they would have tried to help. 

"They were happy for me to drive and potentially kill myself and others, it made me so angry, they didn't think about all the implications."

Mrs Cole then walked up to the minor injuries unit where staff took her blood pressure and performed an ECG, to discover that she had an irregular heartbeat. 

Staff at Evesham Community Hospital then informed the pensioner that she needed to go to A&E for more tests. 

Mrs Cole said: "Once they had found the problem I felt more comfortable and I knew that if something had happened, they would have taken care of me. 

"I haven't lived in Evesham very long but the people here are really nice, I felt so alone, I don't want to ever go back there."

A spokesperson for Riverside Surgery said: "While we are unable to comment on specific cases, it is important that patients are treated in the most appropriate setting for their problem.

"Occasionally patients will be directed to contact emergency services or advised to attend a local emergency department, where there are the necessary facilities to provide the most appropriate care.

“We will however review this patient’s comments, as we do all feedback provided to us to improve our service offered to patients—and we send the patient our best wishes for their continued recovery.”