"Appalling lack of care or professionalism!"

I received a very bad multiple cat bite to my right index finger. I went to Orsett 24 hours after the incident as the finger had swollen badly, was hot to the touch, deep red and extremely painful. It was clearly infected. The abrupt nurse at reception told me that there was no need for the tetanus or antibiotics that I requested, but I decided to wait to see the nurse anyway. After 2 hours the nurse saw me and advised there was no need for antibiotics, just an antibiotic plaster. He reluctantly gave me a tetanus jab but refused to give me any antibiotics. This goes against the NHS protocol which states that antibiotics should be given for cat bites due to the high risk of infection. Two days later I spoke with my doctor and was given antibiotics. Unfortunately this was too late and I ended up in A and E where the finger had to be lanced with a scalpel to release the pus within as there was a risk of sepsis. I subsequently lost the fingernail a few days later.