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Eye theatre and eye clinic

Posted By jaLuCof

"Eye theatre and eye clinic"

About: North Devon District Hospital / Ophthalmology

(as the patient),

I waited 18 months for a minor op to correct a drooping lower eye lid.

Was very happy to receive my appointment for a day care procedure.

There was one other person waiting  for their similar op, but for  a reduction in their upper lids.

I asked them how long they had had to wait for their op and was Miffed to hear they had only had to wait 7 months!

The treatment at the Eye Theatre was really good, I was well looked after and told I  would get an appointment for my two week check up.

Two days before the two weeks were up, I had heard nothing,  so called the number I was given.

Not sure if I was forgotten or ignored because the person on the phone said they could see I was down for  check up, but there were no available appointments.

She booked me in for the first available one, at the end of July!

Whilst I am pleased I have had my minor op done I am not sure about the check up wait

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Responses

Response from Lisa Baxter, Ophthalmology secretary (Northern Services), Ophthalmology Department (Northern Services), Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 11 months ago
Lisa Baxter
Ophthalmology secretary (Northern Services), Ophthalmology Department (Northern Services),
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 30/07/2024 at 09:59
Published on Care Opinion at 10:33

Dear jaLuCof,

Thank you for taking the time to feed back about your experience in the eye clinic/theatre. I understand your frustration at waiting longer than another patient, who seems to have the same eye condition, however there may have been additional clinical reasons why they were being seen sooner than the 18 months you waited. All of our procedures are triaged for clinical urgency. I am sorry however that you had to wait a long time, but glad that you have now had the procedure.

As feedback is anonymous, I am unable to look up the timeframe from procedure to follow up (as you state the appointment is end of July, which is this week). I don't know how long the wait was, and though I know that was obviously a concern, we do have an eye clinic nurse triage line where you can contact the department with any concerns you have post surgery. It may unfortunately have been the case that, with many patients awaiting follow up, there was a longer wait than initially expressed to you.

Overall I hope that your experience was positive and than, you again for feeding back to us.

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