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Hospital Retinopathy Clinic Appointments

H

Hopeful34

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,289
Location
Yorkshire
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Is anyone getting these appointments at the follow up interval the Consultant wrote on their letter from their last appointment?

I've had laser surgery in the past, and was last seen December 2021, follow up in 4 months. I know there's a national shortage of Opthalmologists, and keep going up to the hospital to ask if there are any appointments (phone just cuts you off if you try ringing as the call centre is so busy), but there are none available. I've said I'll take an appointment at short notice.

Just wondered how other people were getting on?
 
No problems getting seen here, had 2 lots of laser this year, 1st time they got me in the day after I saw the consultant, hospital have been brilliant (Lincolnshire)
 
I should have had my annual check in December last year, but I'm still waiting. I did phone up and ask in case I'd dropped off the list, but was just told the test centre was being refurbished and I could go to another town or else wait. I opted for "wait" as it's hard enough for me to get to this test centre, never mind a strange and distant town. I should add that this is just an annual check and so far no problems have been diagnosed.
 
I had laser surgery at the back of both eyes several years ago, I had a cataract removed early from one eye so they could get to the back of the worst eye. After several follow-ups the hospital discharged me back to my doctor's, who then told me I needed a yearly check-up. I didn't feel this was enough, so requested six monthly reviews, which my Dr's have agreed to. I'm probably quite lucky, as our Dr's are taking diabetic checks very seriously at present. I also make sure I get my sight checked yearly, as my opthalmagist will pick up on any problems too.
 
I'm still getting my annual retinopathy check ups, but they were originally very much delayed by the first COVID outbreak, so I'm actually getting them much later in the year now.
 
Just to update this thread. Whilst at the hospital today for another appointment, I asked the main receptionist if there were any appointments for the eye clinic. Got one this week because of a cancellation.

Great, except that I asked if this would have been offered to someone on the short notice list (as I was), she said, oh no we haven't got time to be doing that!! Maybe not during the week when there are more clinics on, (I don't know), but there were only 2 Consultants there today, I was the only person in the waiting room, and the receptionist was sat twiddling her thumbs. Other Saturday appointments have been quiet in outpatients too, with sometimes 2 receptionists sitting talking about social media, or recipes etc.

How many appointments are lost because of this. It just makes me mad the waste when people are losing their sight or not getting an appointment they desperately need. Sorry, rant over!!
 
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