Split Opthalmology Appointment

M

MikeyBikey

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I have an Opthalmology check next week. The appointment has been changed - once as it flashed with Podiatry (why all these standalone appointment databases?) and then moved to earlier in the day (but neither silly o'clock or early doors). Now I have received a second appointment for a week later. I telephoned and both are valid. The impression I got it is IR scan one week and slit lamp the other. They have always been together. It does seem poor use of patients' and transport's (where applicable) time.

Anyone else had this?
 
I haven't experienced this @MikeyBikey but I agree it seems a bit of a farce for all concerned. It would make much more sense to do it in one as usual!
 
The “yo yo” appointments? I never understand why it’s not a one stop shop. Take time out of work one morning then a week or 2 later.
 
Sorry to hear about the faff of split appointments @MikeyBikey

They do seem to have split various thungs apart into separate sessions. Which probably means more specialist (better?) interactions, but it does mean a lot more waiting room / cancellation / transport faff.

Eg I can remember when all of my annual diabetes doses/management check, weight, BP, toe tickle, and opthalmoscope squinting all happened at the same annual review at the hospital - now that’s 3 different appointments (eye screening, hospital clinic, GP checkup) at 3 different places!
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Sorry to hear about the faff of split appointments @MikeyBikey

They do seem to have split various thungs apart into separate sessions. Which probably means more specialist (better?) interactions, but it does mean a lot more waiting room / cancellation / transport faff.

Eg I can remember when all of my annual diabetes doses/management check, weight, BP, toe tickle, and opthalmoscope squinting all happened at the same annual review at the hospital - now that’s 3 different appointments (eye screening, hospital clinic, GP checkup) at 3 different places!
Click to expand...
I think a lot of this different appointments at different places is to do with funding and resources allocation. Decisions by bean counters to stretch limited budgets. Rarely done for the benefit of patients. Rant over!
 
silver minion said:
I think a lot of this different appointments at different places is to do with funding and resources allocation. Decisions by bean counters to stretch limited budgets. Rarely done for the benefit of patients. Rant over!
Click to expand...

Opthalmology seems in disarray in this area. A friend's second cataract was referred to the private sector after long delays who then referred him back for "field of vision" and pressure checks. Got to hospital and equipment was broken, and had been for weeks (wasted journey). When surgery was eventually done he was sent to Specsavers for post op check.... With two different hospitals it was four locations many miles apart!
 
Got to appointment in a timely manner after ambulance crew got a slight run around by control!

After the visual acuity test I asked the nurse why I had two appointments but she just said "Ask the consultant". I then had the retinal scan. After having this I thought I would ask the technician if they knew why I had two appointments? She looked it up online and said "Yes, it is for a retinal photograph but we can do that now as the camera is at the other end of the room, and both both appointments are for the same consultant. Anyway after her colleague took the photographs he took me to the other area where I waited about 20 minutes and then saw the consultant. Both the retinal scan and the retinal photograph were clear.

The ambulance crew arrived shortly after. They were the ones that had brought me and had taken their lunch break there and had another patient from the hospital who lives near me.

So overall it all went quite smoothly and no appointment next Monday. Just hope I do not get a DNA letter after administration asked to cancel next Monday's appointment!
 
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