A doctor’s surgery has been accused of costing the NHS money for hospital admissions because patients have to wait too long for appointments, according to an angry patient who collapsed due to a delay in treatment.

Last month Tommy Anderson, 57, of Southcote Road, developed a leg infection, but said he was told by St James Practice in Walthamstow that he would have to wait two weeks for an appointment.

He opted to visit Oliver Road Polyclinic instead and waited three hours to be prescribed anti-biotics.

Mr Anderson then made a follow-up appointment at the surgery for a week-and-a-half later.

But the surgery refused to change his bandages, claiming a referral letter had not been received.

A week later Mr Anderson collapsed in St James Road on his way to the surgery.

“Somebody phoned an ambulance and they took me to Whipps Cross,” he said.

“They admitted me and I was put on IV drips and I was told that the infection had got right into my body and caused me to have high temperatures and that’s why I collapsed.

"Tho doctors said the bandages should have been changed a long time ago."

Mr Anderson set up a meeting with Dr Khan at the surgery for a week later, which he says was cancelled when he got to the surgery.

Now he wants action.

He added: “I have made a complaint to the surgery and to NHS England.

“They need to change – this could have happened to an elderly person.

“I didn’t need to go to hospital and cost the NHS all that money if they had just changed my dressings and given me enough antibiotics.”

NHS England has been approached for comment.