Retinopathy shocking...

Arab Horse

Well-Known Member
Messages
884
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
It is just plain bad manners to miss an appointment you know about, it is so easy to pick up a phone and cancel as soon as you know you can't attend. Some NHS services in this area will strike you off their list if you don't have a valid reason for not attending (ill, in hospital etc.): Even if you are ill it is unlikely that you would be too ill to use the phone. I think it would be a good idea to charge for the next appointment if someone has just not turned up without a really good reason; if they were fined £25 (far less than the real cost) they might think twice about being so bad mannered.

Off my soap box now!!!

Barbara
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people

rubold

Well-Known Member
Messages
110
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
IMO the eye screening service has gone downhill since the contract was awarded to Medical Imaging Ltd. Previous to this eye screening was carried out by my local opthalmic optician, so I could have my eyesight tested at the same appointment.

This year I received my appt. letter for a date in July, but the appt. time was 12:30, so I had to cancel this as my blood sugars would have been through the floor due to having lunchtime disturbed. So they replaced this with one about 2:30, a month later. At this appt. after the drops were applied, waited for 20min and was ushered in to have my retinas photographed. It was immediately apparent that the camera operator was inexperienced as she did not adjust the camera height to suit my height.. She then tried to take the photographs, but the little green light you are supposed to follow was not working, so she was telling me to look over her left or right shoulder. A couple of weeks later I received a latter stating that the images were not clear enough for assessment to be carried out and I would receive another appt for their digital imaging clinic, where apparently an opthalmologist would examine the images on the screen to determine if they were satisfactory.

I contacted them and it would appear that they had known about the camera malfunction, but thought the images would still be OK. So they had continued to add drops to all those patient's eyes, causing them to walk around like zombies for the rest of the day, when they knew there was a problem with the camera.

It took from August to first week in November to receive the next appt. at which the images obtained were apparently satisfactory. So from an appt. in January with my opthalmic optician under the previous system, I have had it pushed out to nearly 2 years in the Medical Imaging System, through no fault of my own.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people

CollieBoy

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,974
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Hi carb Foods
I do think that the apt given for retinopathy should only be an offer. Booked in only when the customer rings to agree.
@angelicbaby
This is a most sensible idea, as it would remove the missed appointments due to those who can't be @rsed to reply, as well as those who don't get the letter in time, if at all!
 

noblehead

Guru
Retired Moderator
Messages
23,618
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
Disrespectful people
Actually, our practice loses the equvalent of a gp for 1/2 a week due to patients not attending appointments.. And yet patientsmoan they can't get appts..

Isn't this all a vicious circle?


I think this is one of the reasons why you now have to book appointments on the day rather than booking days ahead as in recent years.
 

Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,215
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Our surgery has a large poster up showing details of missed appointments the previous month, length of time doctors waste through this, and the amount of money it cost the tax payer. It is quite an eye opener.

My dentist (NHS) strikes you off the list for failed appointments, and that should be a motivation not to because once struck off you have to go private and pay through the nose.
 
H

Hooked

Guest
I used to cancel my eye screening appointments.
When I was a teen I used to be seen regularly by the hospital for eye tests and repeatedly asked if I needed glasses. Was always told no, that my eyes were just sensitive to blood glucose changes and glasses would do me no good. It meant years of struggling to focus on books etc at school and lots of missed homeworks as a result. In my twenties I decided to go to a private optician and low and behold, yes I needed glasses as I'm long sighted! Finally I could see properly again! So for a long time after that I avoided any hospital appointments as they had been previously useless.
My private optician bought a machine to photograph the back of the eyes a few years ago and discovered changes at the back of mine and urged me to pass on a letter to my GP and get referred on to the hospital. Of course I put that off for a year and when it was finally done I had proliferative retinopathy. Totally shocked cos to me, my eyesight was absolutely fine and I thought I'd get some sort of warning signs before things got to this stage.
 

secundaw

Well-Known Member
Messages
54
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I went for mine today and could not have it done,very frustrating as 5 others couldn't have theirs down due to not being a 'live patient' we are not on the system, on nhs on the Pauline Carr diabetes programme on not on the system that they use,I had to get somebody to take me wait for me pay parking charges all for nothing now have got to wait,meant to be done in first 3 months mine won't be.
 

zand

Master
Messages
10,840
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Yes @secundaw it's not always the patients' faults that the appointments are wasted, is it?

I am surprised to hear that so many people are missing these appointments though. In my own surgery we receive a letter 2-3 weeks before the screening unit arrives at the surgery and we are asked to phone to make an appointment within a 2 week time slot. I think this is far more sense than sending appointments which may not be convenient. If I have gone to the trouble of telephoning to make the appointment myself I am more likely to remember it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people
Messages
18,446
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Bullies, Liars, Trolls and dishonest cruel people
I get texts to say ' I have a certain appointment at a certain time on the day' @ hospital, GP's and the dentist, and write it down on the calender as soon as I possibly can :)

RRB
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people

eddie1968

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,661
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Pasta, sorry to me it's vile, yeuch lol (and full of nasty carbs)
Some people never learn. I've never missed a retinal screening exam even though my optometrist taken photos too. Just had my results there, no changes so my mince-pies are ok and am unlikely to walk into a lamppost or miss the odd lucky ten spot lying in the pavement lol.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 4 people

ElyDave

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,087
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
My problem is fitting these things in around my work pattern, where I can be scheduling things 6-12months from now with hard dates in mine and clients diaries, and with me being away several weeks a month typically leaving the house at some point in Monday and getting back on Friday.

I can schedule things to fit in with this, but only iff people ask me first

Take my recent experience, completely out of the blue, I get a follow up appointment for new pump users in late Feb. I can't do it as I'm in Aberdeen. Off my own back, I rearrange with the DSN to fit it in the same day as my annual clininc appointment in December to avoid having to make two half-day trips to Addenbrookes. I'm now also using this to do my start on the Insight pump as well.

The system should really have already done this for me but no blooming chance.

Instead, and remember that this is an appointment for a new pump user, I received a new letter telling me that my original date had been cancelled, no reference to December, but giving me an appointment in July.

Yes, that's 7 months later for an INITIAL pump review.
 

donnellysdogs

Master
Messages
13,233
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
People that can't listen to other people's opinions.
People that can't say sorry.
Crikey, we just get phone calls directly from nurse. Had that in Wales and Bucks... For pump changover etc.
The hosp are hopeless for sending me any appts at all for diabetes pump clinics reviews... In 2.5 years I have never had a letter sent at all. I just always remember when my consultant says she wants to see me and let that date come and go....then phone up the hospital and ask for an appointment. Always is 3 months at least before I can get in....

I know now how hopeless the booking system is for anybody that lives out of the CCG area loke me, but because my consultant is superb I just work the lack of appts in my favour.

Mind you, I'm not exactly a difficult patient or needing care so I guess I'm
Lucky...
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people

eddie1968

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,661
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Pasta, sorry to me it's vile, yeuch lol (and full of nasty carbs)
Crikey, we just get phone calls directly from nurse. Had that in Wales and Bucks... For pump changover etc.
The hosp are hopeless for sending me any appts at all for diabetes pump clinics reviews... In 2.5 years I have never had a letter sent at all. I just always remember when my consultant says she wants to see me and let that date come and go....then phone up the hospital and ask for an appointment. Always is 3 months at least before I can get in....

I know now how hopeless the booking system is for anybody that lives out of the CCG area loke me, but because my consultant is superb I just work the lack of appts in my favour.

Mind you, I'm not exactly a difficult patient or needing care so I guess I'm
Lucky...
:mad:Frustrating or what ?
 

donnellysdogs

Master
Messages
13,233
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
People that can't listen to other people's opinions.
People that can't say sorry.
:mad:Frustrating or what ?
Frustrating in a way...but it means that I can time my hba1c tests and appts to fit in with me rather than vice versa!!-/))
 

eddie1968

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,661
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Pasta, sorry to me it's vile, yeuch lol (and full of nasty carbs)
Frustrating in a way...but it means that I can time my hba1c tests and appts to fit in with me rather than vice versa!!-/))
Got to admit it, you've got it truly sorted lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2 people

donnellysdogs

Master
Messages
13,233
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
People that can't listen to other people's opinions.
People that can't say sorry.
Got to admit it, you've got it truly sorted lol

Beats moaning about hosp not giving appts on time etc!!! If I was ill with a serious ailment I would of course be furious.. But 30years its just an acceptance of getting things in my favour instead... Ie much better to get hba1c done before xmas if poss.. If not wait 90 days till after christmas to chase up!!
 

Ruth B

Well-Known Member
Messages
447
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I don't get sent an eye appointment, just a letter telling me its due and a list of local opticians that can carry it out, its then up to me to make the appointment at a time that is convenient for me. If I ignore the letter I get another a few months later, and then a telling off by the nurse or doctor next time I see them (which I don't take offence at, they just try and emphasise how important it is).

As far as missed appointments go, I know someone who works in the referral and booking department of the local hospital and you would not believe the number of times people ring up denying they have missed appointments, or have never been told about them and it ends up that they moved a while ago and never thought to let the hospital know the new address.

The other one to mention is that if they ever call you and you are not there they should not leave ANY message, not even to say for you to ring them, due to patient confidentiality.
 

pavlovsdog

Well-Known Member
Messages
907
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi everyone

I had my retinopathy appt today and I was shocked.

The person screening said that she had phoned 1 patient today as he had missed another screening.. He had missed 7 appointments and not been bothered to even cancel them.

They screen every weekend and last Saturday7 patients did not arrive for their appointments and did not cancel them.

They are purely for diabetic retinopathy screening.

Are diabetics really not realising they need these eye checks and they can lose their sight?

Are they too **** busy to txt that they can't attend or lift a phone to call?

I'm so mad that despite the nhs being in crisis with money that the patients just don't turn up or value their eyesight..

Moan over, but still angry.
Told again that no problems with eyes, **** good for T1 30 + years...

Hi @donnellysdogs I work in the NHS and folks not turning up is very common in all OPA's. There have been occasions when I have rang a patient the day before their appointment to check if they intend to come, and they say yes, but still fail to turn up and don't send a message. :-/
 
  • Like
Reactions: 3 people

donnellysdogs

Master
Messages
13,233
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
People that can't listen to other people's opinions.
People that can't say sorry.
Hi @donnellysdogs I work in the NHS and folks not turning up is very common in all OPA's. There have been occasions when I have rang a patient the day before their appointment to check if they intend to come, and they say yes, but still fail to turn up and don't send a message. :-/

I know and its awful for wasted time and money for patients that really need help!!

I went to an appointment in last 6months to check for amyotrophy. On a Sunday, with a consultant and out of 3 patients I was the only person that turned up for the tests....

I would be so grateful for any ideas that anybody has to get patients to turn up or cancel as this is the biggest item on our PPG and LPEG agendas... How can we get patients to their appointments or to cancel them?

It is appalling. Personally, I think the only way is to charge people for not attending but, govts will not change their thinking for fear of losing votes. So what the heck can I do as a PPG member at local GP practice to get the public more interested in attending their appts??
 

eddie1968

Well-Known Member
Messages
3,661
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Pasta, sorry to me it's vile, yeuch lol (and full of nasty carbs)
I know Greater Glasgow and Clyde NHS send you a text days before appointments even my GP's Practice does this so it is an appt and a reminder too and you'd either have to have very bad memory or not ill and thus not need an appointment. I've been in empty clincs too and get infuriated when people moan about waiting lists. If I can't make it I will reschedule in plenty of time and do not like mucking the NHS about. People are taking it for granted and that it works around them. Rant over