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Angry at follow up letter

Posted By monoceroshf97

"Angry at follow up letter"

About: Bideford Hospital / Ophthalmology

(as the patient),

I recently attended the Bideford Hospital for my eyes tested and the usual injection, this hurts a bit but I usually recover quite quickly.

I'm a little bit annoyed at the letter I have received that says that my vision is below the legal level for driving. I live alone and need to be able to drive. I wear special glasses when I am driving and I'm really angry at the assessment of the two staff members.

I am in my 70s and I consider my eyes are in a reasonable condition. I have been out twice in the car since to two supermarkets where I parked in the car park and walked twenty metres away. I was still clearly able to read the number plays of other people's cars. I have been driving since 1964 and I've never been involved in an accident.

I have to say I am not actually pleased with the staff that conducted my appointment on this occasion.

As a responsible driver I have booked myself an eye test with my regular optician.

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Responses

Response from Melanie Grout, Lead Nurse Ophthalmology Outpatients (Northern Services), Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust 8 months ago
Melanie Grout
Lead Nurse Ophthalmology Outpatients (Northern Services),
Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Submitted on 11/11/2024 at 13:16
Published on Care Opinion at 13:16

Dear Monoceroshf97

Thank you for your feedback and I am sorry that you were annoyed following your recent letter. We have an obligation to inform patients where their eyesight does not meet the minimum standard for driving. The requirements are clearly set out on the Government website here and as advised on the website, you could be prosecuted if you drive without meeting the standard of vision for driving. Based on this, we strongly advise that you do not continue to drive until this has been resolved.

I understand that this may be upsetting, and I am sorry if this news has come as a shock to you. Wherever possible we try to tell patients at their appointment and I sincerely apologise if this did not happen on this occasion. I am wondering if you did not get the opportunity to see the consultant on the day of your appointment.

Due to the anonymous nature of Care Opinion I am unable to comment on your specific feedback or if there is treatment that could improve your eyesight. I would really like to look into this for you and discuss a further treatment plan.

Please can I ask you to contact me via melanie.grout@nhs.net including your name and contact details and quote Care Opinion ref 1283534. I can then look into the issue you have raised and discuss any next steps.

Many thanks for getting in touch and I hope to hear from you soon.

Kind regards

Mel

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