A NEW mother has told of her fury after doctors at an NHS walk-in centre refused to examine her baby - even after an ambulance had been called.

West Swindon mum-of-one Natasha Miles has hit out at what she says was “disgusting” care at the central Swindon health centre.

Natasha called NHS non-emergency number 111, after a cold left her 11-week-old son Logan coughing up phlegm.

The 21-year-old was told to go to the NHS Swindon Walk-in Centre on Islington Street. But when they arrived at 5pm, Natasha and her partner Nathaniel were told by centre staff they were shutting early because “they were short staffed”.

The seven-day centre, which is managed by the Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, normally closes at 6pm.

Despite the centre closing to new arrivals early that day, Natasha said that staff booked her in – saying that there would be a four-hour wait.

“I waited until 6pm and then thought it’s ridiculous – he’s 11 weeks old,” she said.

Worried Natasha called 111 again, asking whether there was anywhere else in Swindon she could take the youngster.

“The call handler asked me a few questions about him, then she worried me because she told me to wake him up – which is normally easy – but he wouldn’t wake up and was producing bubbles from his mouth,” the mum said.

“She then told me to check his nappy, so we went to the baby changing area and checked. He still hadn’t woken up.”

Worried, the 111 call handler called out an ambulance, which arrived within minutes.

When paramedics checked the boy everything appeared normal.

But they wanted a second opinion. As Natasha was reluctant to wait at A&E, a security guard led the group to GPs at the walk-in centre.

Natasha claims that the GPs still refused to see her boy, claiming that she had not been registered with them as a patient: “They said no to a paramedic, because I’m not officially registered to that doctor.

“I was disgusted when they told me they wouldn’t take five minutes out of their time to have a look at my 11-week-old baby.

“In the end we left with a happy baby thanks to the paramedics.”

Managed by GWH, the walk-in centre is based at the NHS Swindon Health Centre on Islington Street, which also houses GP surgery the Carfax NHS Medical Centre.

Patients must register with the latter – but anyone can use the walk-in centre.

It is open seven days a week, 8am-6pm. Outside of these hours, patients are either directed to the emergency department or the GP out-of-hours service, managed by private firm Medvivo and based at the Moredon Medical Centre.

GWH said: “All patients visiting the Walk-in Centre are seen in order of clinical need, which can mean that at busy times there can be a long wait for treatment.

“The Walk-in Centre is open from 8am until 6pm every day, but even when the doors are closed to new arrivals, we will still see everyone in the waiting room.

“Anyone who has any concerns about their care or treatment can contact our PALS team for advice and support on 01793 604031 or gwh.pals@nhs.net.”