Hospital Retinopathy Clinic Appointments

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?

Glad you got seen so quickly @DEBBIESCOTT Thanks for replying. Apparently the retinopathy clinic has the longest waiting time here of all the eye clinics

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!!