When pensioner Patricia Tidbury badly cut her finger on a door she might have felt that at least she had done it in the right place. She was in a doctors’ surgery.

Not wanting to bother the practice itself she went to the adjoining pharmacy but they advised the 73-year-old great-grandmother that she should get medical attention.

However, that’s when her real problems began at the Horsmans Place Surgery in Instone Road, Dartford.

Still bleeding at reception, she was told there was no one with first aid training immediately available to dress the wound, and she would need to fill out two forms before proper assistance could be administered.

Her furious daughter has complained, saying: “There seemed to be no compassion there or common sense.”

Patricia Tidbury, 73, went along to the Horsmans Place Surgery after being referred there for a dermatology appointment at 9am. It is not her usual practice.

As she left the building, she caught her hand on a door, cutting her finger quite badly.

She initially went to the pharmacy in the same building for advice, and was told by staff to go back to the surgery to get first aid as her finger needed bandaging.

However, her daughter, Amanda Miles, 50, claims her mum, who lives in Valley Drive, Gravesend, was not treated with any compassion.

Mrs Miles, who lives in Northfleet, said: “My mum asked if she could get her finger dressed, but the receptionist told her they were not first-aid-trained and didn’t even look at the wound. Mum was in a lot of pain.

“Mum was trembling and her finger was bleeding, and she just wanted to get the wound dressed.

"The woman then told her she would have to fill in an accident form, all the while mum was in a lot of pain.

“The receptionist then told mum she couldn’t be seen as she was not a patient at the practice, and she had to fill in another form.

“All this took about 15 minutes, and finally she was seen by the nurse.

“I was so angry when mum told me what had happened, and we have written a letter of complaint.”

She has also contacted the Care Quality Commission.

“There seemed to be no compassion there or common sense,” she added. “My sister called the practice afterwards and asked if the staff were first-aid-trained, and was told they were. She asked why they never treated my mum, and got told the practice was not a walk-in centre.”

Mrs Tidbury suffered a superficial cut to her finger, which was also badly bruised. She is now recovering at home.

The surgery was contacted for a comment but has not responded.