An MP requests help

[Lynn White]

Rosemary...

I do wish I hadn't read your post when drinking my coffee because I nearly choked! You have a good comic turn of phrase and I look forward to you publishing "My eyes and me: A journey to the dark side of the Force!"

I think this is a sort of warning as to how solutions on prescription can be like. If everyone did start getting their solutions from hospitals, can you imagine the logistics?

Clearly this has to be thought out better. I agree with Ali that contact lenses need to be contracted out to those who know what they are about .. but solutions are another matter.

Excuse me while I get my laser sword: There is red tape to swipe through! Where is Obe Wan Knobe when you want him?

Lynn

[GarethB]

Obe Wan Konobe what's his name is really Andrew when he's not weraing the dog coller

[Lynn White]

Ahhhhhhh.....

So thats why he is always making cryptic comments?

[Sweet]

Hehe or otherwise known as mad wise bird!!!! LOL Andrew, sorry!!!

Working in a hospital i personally think that it would be a very bad idea if we all had to go there to get our solutions. What bedlam would that be! Moorfields is already packed, i can wait hours for pharmacy already so wouldn't want to have to go there for any more pescriptions if i can help it!!

When i was in Wales i used to get a three month supply from the hospital and was then sent to see an optometrist known to them for lens fitting. He dealt with most of the KC patients in the area. I could get some solutions from him although found it cheaper to buy them privately, and as he was twelve miles from me i could find somewhere a lot nearer.

Sweet X x X

[Anne B]

Hi

I get my contact lens solution on prescription from Moorfields. The problem is i haven't got any lenses HaHa. Whenever i go they always ask me if i want solutions and i have said yes because i was trying lenses.

Rosemary, you made me laugh.

Anne

[rosemary johnson]

Ali:

I moved away from Merseyside nearly 24 years ago, and now I *am* an MEH patient.
Lynn asked how the scheme worked at MEH, so I tried to explain.

As for writing tot he pharmacy - I'm more inclined to think it would be ore appropriate to write tot he MEH complaints address, to protest about the about of conflicting info we're given, as in ne person tells you one thing, and then someone else tells you something completely different and tries to say you're lying for saying what their colleague said, and the pharmacy and the practitioners don't seem to know what each other do.
and, it seems, how much simple rubbish they tell us.

I've no idea what an HES(P) for is. back 32 years ago when I was first diagnosed, I was referred to *the* specialist KC scleral lens fitter in the area (who wasn't in the hospital but part of an optician's practice). He did a good job - it took MEH till 23 years after i moved to london to get anything better for my right eye than the one I had c 1980 from Keith Nelsn in Hamilton Square.
I have no objection at all to the principle of the referral system - just like to point out it doesn't necessarily reduce the waiting, queueing or parking problems.
Should maybe add in those days it was my mum who picked me up from school and drove me there. I couldn't then, nor now, drive.

Rosemary

[Ali Akay]

Christine
Thanks to being a hopeless hoarder I managed to locate not one but two documents re CL solutions!
1.Appendix 2 to FPN413 (1986) which states:"The provision of contact lens solution is regarded as an integral part of the treatment and it should,therefore,continue to be made available to patients from HES on payment of the standard prescription charge, where this is applicable".

2.Appendix 6 to HC(89) 12 which states:"Health authorities are again reminded that where contact lenses have been prescribed on clinical grounds through the HES, the provision of the necessary cleansing and sterilising solutions is regarded as an integral part of the therapy. Health authorities must therefore ensure that solutions are made available for patients for whom contact lenses have been prescribed. Patients should pay the normal prescription charges, unless they are in an exempt category".

So there! I would be happy to send a photocopy of the relevant documents to whoever is going to pursue this .

[Christine Wright]

Wow, I'm impressed!

I'll print off what you've written, for future reference. Just in case I ever need to produce them, could you tell me where they come from - Department of Health?

Thanks

[Ali Akay]

Christine
The documents are circulars from the area health authority (what used to Family Practitioner Committees), I am pretty sure published by DOH.We used to get these boring long documents called FPN (Family Practitioner Notice I guess) at annual review of GOS sight test fees etc, but nowadays they tend to send much shorter documents which simply give the new voucher values.

[Sean Sadler]

Would you consider adding "D&A Excel Conditioning Soloution" (£5.19 120ml).
Have tried various solutions, Boots, Ciba, Allergan & Bausch lomb however have not been able to settle with a solution as I have with D&A. Wetting, Soaking & Disinfecting.

Just to add another factor into the conversation, perscriptions go up on the 1st April 2006 to £6.65.

There is a leaflet HC12 that lists the new charges:


Sean