Moorfields Eye Hospital

[Lesley Foster]

I'm afraid this just goes to show the state our health service is in and I don't mean at the working end, the nursing staff and doctors do a brilliant job under difficult circumstances, I wouldn't go back for anything.

The article says that money made will go straight back to Moorfields, presumably to pay off the debt. The article also says there is a "substantial over supply" of eye surgeons and doctors who cannot find jobs yet I imagine there are eye departments in other hospitals who would probably welcome them but can't because of funding comstraints.

On the other hand, bearing in mind that the government advocates sending patients abroad for treatment if they can't get it in England within a specified time does this mean trips to Dubai are in order if waiting times get too long at Moorfields?

Lesley.

[Andrew MacLean]

I am sorry that Moorfields seems to be in such a difficlult situation.

It is worth saying, however, that this is not the universal experience of the NHS in all parts of the UK.

Andrew

[Sweet]

Doctors and medical staff in the NHS are having a hard time in places to find any job not just with opthalmic staff.

The bad point here with Moorfields is that they are sending their own staff abroad to pay off a debt problem which is totally different to doctors trying to find a job themselves.

Sweet X x X

[Steven Williams]

Is there anywhere in the UK where as a KC patient you can receive:-

(a) satisfactory care and treatment?

(b) top quality care and treatment?

By satisfactory I mean that if you receive an appointment time you are seen not later than 15 minutes later (not up to 1-2 hours later as is the norm for me at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital under Dr Cindy Troumans clinic)

That you receive attention from a trained time served and experienced contact lens fitter, or consultant in KC.

That suuficient time is allocated to the appointment and that you are fully and properly informed of how they are managing the condition to enable you to continue functioning and delivering at work so that you can look after your family.

The only positive development in KC care I have seen after 23 years sadly is the self help route and websites like this.

There is enough money put in the pot for public services but the majority is spent on wars and the arms/defence industry.

[Andrew MacLean]

Is there anywhere in the UK where as a KC patient you can receive:-
(a) satisfactory care and treatment?

Yes

(b) top quality care and treatment?

Yes

By satisfactory I mean that if you receive an appointment time you are seen not later than 15 minutes later (not up to 1-2 hours later as is the norm for me at Manchester Royal Eye Hospital under Dr Cindy Troumans clinic)

Yes, I can often be seen and out of the clinic within half an hour of my appointment time. When my needs demand a longer consultation, this is allowed.

That you receive attention from a trained time served and experienced contact lens fitter, or consultant in KC.

Yes, for years I was seen by specialists in fitting conact lenses to KC eyes, and they kept going the extra mile for me, even as my eyes became more difficult to fit and I becaake intollerant to more and more different lens types.

That suficient time is allocated to the appointment and that you are fully and properly informed of how they are managing the condition to enable you to continue functioning and delivering at work so that you can look after your family.

Most empahatically yes.
I can go further. When I needed additional attention at the beginning of this year, the NHS ophthalmologist I see in an NHS clinic offered me surgery at a time convenient to me and within six weeks of the problem arising.

By the way, I agree that this site is a very positive help to many, including myself.

Andrew

[Pat A]

What is interesting for me in replying to this post is that I get the impression that once you fully understand what KC is all about and gain experience in d/w the doctors and Contact lens practitioners at hospitals then Andrew's comments are valid - because you know what you are d/w and have the courage to question and ensure that sufficient time is spent with you.

But as a novice to all of this - and I know there are others like me - it is now apparent that when you get that first diagnosis there is no question that you simply do not get the time you need. I remember leaving Moorfields in November 2006 not even really knowing how to spell the condition , let alone understanding what it really meant. I was shocked and confused. It is only through this website and forum that I have actually begun to understand the condition and what it means. That is not right. Hospitals, and consultants (not that I saw the consultant!) need to recognise that although they may know what KC is - we, the patients don't!

So that takes me back to a comment I made on another topic - we MUST somehow raise the profile of this condition and get consultants and other NHS people to recognise that and help us particularly at the first diagnosis - that is where I think we are badly let down.. How? Well maybe that's for further debate I guess at our AGM.

And picking up on other points - I have had 3 appointments at Moorfields so far - the first 2 I waited a good 2 hours beyond my appointment time before I was seen - that is not good enough. In the contact lens clinic last week I was seen on time - and for that I am grateful, and it seems very lucky! But the norm seems to be " expect a long wait". If opening a branch in Dubai will help - I'm all in favour - but will it? I doubt it....

[Steven Williams]

Thanx for that Pat.....its spot on imo.

Based on my experience the system is not fit for purpose because of inadequate competent management and being under human resourced in terms of trained experienced staff.

Andrew delighted to know there is top quality treatment available in the UK.

Rather than provide a response I would associate with a politician could a Church Minister of Scotland give us a helpful response and disclose where that is and the name of the consultant.

[Pat A]

Just to add - I do think it makes a difference where you are in the country as to the level and quality of the treatment you receive.

As an example, a few years ago I had the misfortune to have a fall and break my collar bone whilst on holiday in Scotland. The local doctor was called and he turned up within minutes. He arranged for me to go to the local cottage hospital. On arrival, they were waiting for me. I was examined immediately and it was decided that I need better treatment than they could give and I was sent to the hospital in Perth - " Bridge of Earn" (sorry if I have spelt it wrong!) . It was quicker for hubby to drive me than call an ambulance so we set off. On arrival at the Perth Hospital, I was treated like Royalty! Straight in, x-rayed immediately, doctor on hand, strapped up, pain killers and advice administered - and all within half an hour!! And I did not have a life threatening problem - just painful. I was gobsmacked!

But this New years eve - my 60 year old friend with severe abdominal pain - and I mean severe, we spent 4 hours in Casualty, 3 hours of it waiting to be seen by a doctor. Need I say more..................

[Steven Williams]

KC creates problems requiring management and solutions which can categorised into:-

1. the physiological

2. the psychological

IMO a top quality advanced twenty first century health care system would deal with both, and there would be no need for self help websites like this.

I agree with you Pat and think that for us the news about Moorfields is without any doubt bad, losing the best staff! Question is! as a self help organisation and registered charity what should we be doing about it?

[Vic]

I just thought I would add my two pence' worth re. satisfactory care - I have to disagree with you Steven that it is unsatisfactory to have to wait more than 15 minutes beyond 'appointment time'. Yes waiting for 2 hours can be frustrating, but I think that we DO have an excellent health service in the UK, and we both have and expect free access to doctors / other experts. Sometimes that service doesn't run quite as smoothly as we'd like and we end up waiting hours to be seen / months to get an appt, BUT I think it's worth remembering sometimes that there are all manner of extremely legitimate reasons why a clinic is running behind. Having worked abroad in hospitals in Africa and South Asia and seen just how basic or non-existent healthcare can be, I think we do take the facilities and service here, and the fact that we can access them for free, for granted sometimes. Of course the NHS is not perfect, and somtimes there can be a lot of room for improvement, but I think that waiting an hour to see an ophthalmologist is not synonymous with care being unsatisfactory. But just my view.