Thought I had an eye problem

[milkloss]

Eye departments can vary wildly but our local group of consultants are great. I saw a consultant everyday for two weeks last year. They have a WhatsApp group discussing acute patients amongst themselves to keep tabs. The problem is getting through to the people you need to see.
I have one consultant on mobile for queries but part of my treatment is private so that helps.
Always best to ring and find out where the emergency eye doctor is before going to a&e….. could be Brighton, bexhill, Hastings or Eastbourne round here so have to ready for mileage to get to the right place.
Eye depts have become phenomenally busy especially with all the eye injections they now use. These are £1200 a throw just on drugs alone now so plenty cash flying out the door.

 

[GTE]

Limoges had a bed for me, available for a possible Laser retinal surgery tonight.
I don't believe the service I had today, or a bed would be available in Cheltenham.

 

[GTE]

My nearest hospital is Glos - a year ago i had a splinter from a circular saw enter my eye. Immediate total loss of sight in that eye -just white glare.......... drove one eyed to local injuries unit (6m away) - ptnr then drove me to cheltenham (got eye dept) where they fast tracked me through full emergency waiting room to consultant. A yr later I have a new lens and 95% vision in that eye. Not picking a fight but won't hear a bad word against Cheltenham -they were fantastic at all stages of diagnosis and treatment. Once on waiting kist for new lens it was less than 1month.

 

[le bon paysan]

My nearest hospital is Glos - a year ago i had a splinter from a circular saw enter my eye. Immediate total loss of sight in that eye -just white glare.......... drove one eyed to local injuries unit (6m away) - ptnr then drove me to cheltenham (got eye dept) where they fast tracked me through full emergency waiting room to consultant. A yr later I have a new lens and 95% vision in that eye. Not picking a fight but won't hear a bad word against Cheltenham -they were fantastic at all stages of diagnosis and treatment. Once on waiting kist for new lens it was less than 1month.

Good to hear.

 

[ollie989898]

The trouble is there is no universal experience because there is no universal organisation of any kind. This mythical three letter organisation I keep seeing posted does not physically exist and it does not pay anyone I know any wages- your mileage may vary.

The public have radically changed in their understanding and expectation of healthcare today. I guess this might be a by-product of our 'right now' society with google, email and texts available at your finger tips with free delivery starting from tomorrow. When I was tiny you basically didn't go to the GP surgery unless you were literally on death's door and you sure as heck didn't dial 999 basically ever. Today people will ring for an ambulance because they are lonely, they've got toothache or because their TV remote doesn't work. No one complains about it mind, because that is all part and parcel of what makes the job fun.

 

[Exfarmer]

It's no different from the UK with symptoms you presented, whatever some may claim. Except that if you presented yourself at the optician with retinal detachment they would likely lie you on your back in the waiting area and get an ambulance to take you in, lying down. For things that have immediate risk of escalation, the NHS is pretty good.

I would agree , i reported before went into A&E feeling bit of fool as i was not obviously badly ill. After triage was seen with in two hours as i had burst blood vessel in the eye. Apparently rapid treatment is imperative hasd another check next morning but no long term issues except a large floater in my eye

 

[ollie989898]

I would agree , i reported before went into A&E feeling bit of fool as i was not obviously badly ill. After triage was seen with in two hours as i had burst blood vessel in the eye. Apparently rapid treatment is imperative hasd another check next morning but no long term issues except a large floater in my eye

Eyes are one thing where you must must must seek urgent medical advice. Neurological symptoms would be another.

 

[Widgetone]

OH has a chronic eye problem, and has recently been told there are no consultants at the local eye clinic anymore. At the outset there were four, and was told it was the leading clinic in East Anglia.
We're not sure what plan B is...

 

[Exfarmer]

OH has a chronic eye problem, and has recently been told there are no consultants at the local eye clinic anymore. At the outset there were four, and was told it was the leading clinic in East Anglia.
We're not sure what plan B is...

is that Bury ?

 

[Rich_ard]

So what are they doing differently to the uk which is in such a mess?
Is it free to all like uk?

Not in my experience. I was getting double vision. In for a eye test with my opticians, even though I'm only there to get sparks removed usually. That was Monday morning. He spotted swelling so sent pictures to the eye clinic in ARI. They kept me in todo more scans now I'm awaiting a meeting about surgery next week. Hopefully that goes OK. So they can move if they need to. Ironically I think the doctor in the eye clinic was born in France.

 

[czechmate]

No, it certainly isn’t.
But they did put him in a bed, when he’d rather have just been seen, then told to go home.

People keep praising the NHS when I am really worried that as I am at the age where I start to need to use it more, it is shambolic!
For the fortune it has cost me in National Insurance, I was hoping for a lot better!

I needed it when I was 23. My thoughts then was that they looked after and nursed me really well, though its facilities were a bit antiquated. I was thinking that it was bound to improve, only to find it has done the complete opposite.
IMO, the nurses have forgotten how to nurse.

My own stepdaughter is in her final year of Medical Uni and is completely disillusioned by it all, wondering WTF she wanted to be a Doctor in the first place.

The whole thing is just a bureaucratic nightmare, full of some that really want to do a good job and a lot that don’t give a feck.

It comes to something when we, as farmers look after and care our livestock a damned sight better than the NHS looks after and cares for us!

but you received very good care yourself last year?

 

[milkloss]

Just been in for another eye injection….. scans, consult and drugs etc ….£500. An that’s cheap. The nhs would use drugs costing upwards of £1200 alone as they can’t use off label like I get privately.

I’ve been seeing the chap for 8 years now and all bar a sneaky bottle of steroids and the odd scan has been paid for by me. I can understand the nhs needing to limit expenditure but some of it doesn’t make sense.

 

[Two Tone]

but you received very good care yourself last year?

Actually, it was in ‘22.
Can’t praise John Radcliffe at Oxford enough.
But Oxfordshire University’s Banbury, Horton Hospital was absolutely disgraceful.

They realised how bad they were when they let me go home the evening after my procedure at the JR, rather than have me stay another night at Banbury.
A few of the staff were brilliant, but most absolutely couldn’t give a sh!t.
As for the Consultant - he should be struck off!

And never trust or wait for the Ambulance service.
Seriously, you could die as a result.

 

[czechmate]

Actually, it was in ‘22.
Can’t praise John Radcliffe at Oxford enough.
But Oxfordshire University’s Banbury, Horton Hospital was absolutely disgraceful.

They realised how bad they were when they let me go home the evening after my procedure at the JR, rather than have me stay another night at Banbury.
A few of the staff were brilliant, but most absolutely couldn’t give a sh!t.
As for the Consultant - he should be struck off!

And never trust or wait for the Ambulance service.
Seriously, you could die as a result.

wow, time flies.
sorry to read that, it’s not how I remember it.
maybe you didn’t clap enough

 

[ollie989898]

OH has a chronic eye problem, and has recently been told there are no consultants at the local eye clinic anymore. At the outset there were four, and was told it was the leading clinic in East Anglia.
We're not sure what plan B is...

Go private. Apparently the bulk of the ophthalmic world already is.

 

[Two Tone]

wow, time flies.
sorry to read that, it’s not how I remember it.
maybe you didn’t clap enough

They were supposed to be clapping for all the essential services that had to keep working, including farmers.

But as fecking usual the NHS kept crying and moaning how hard done by they are, so stole all the claps.

I never clapped.

 

[Widgetone]

Go private. Apparently the bulk of the ophthalmic world already is.

Thats been explored, but told pre existing condition isn't covered. But might become necessary.

Bit like dentistry hereabouts - not much of a health service is it?

We didn't clap either.

 

[ollie989898]

Thats been explored, but told pre existing condition isn't covered. But might become necessary.

Bit like dentistry hereabouts - not much of a health service is it?

We didn't clap either.

I never thought clapping was a great idea and the whole thing made me cringe.

I can see GP services and a lot of similar going the way of dentistry.

 

[milkloss]

Go private. Apparently the bulk of the ophthalmic world already is.

Go private and see if that will facilitate getting nhs appointments. Some local health authorities are paying independent businesses to provide ophthalmic services.