"No apparent understanding of urgent eye care."

I had an to occasion to ring 111 service early one morning to ask advice as to what I should do about the sudden loss of vision in my left eye. I was told to go to Good Hope A&E within the hour.

I managed to speak to a doctor after 3 hours, and was told by him that he needed to speak to a consultant.

I waited another Hour and a half and spoke to the same Doctor again. We decided to walk over to the The Sheldon unit ophthalmology department and was told that they were not told about it and that they could not see me. So I went back to A&E and was then advised by a nurse to go urgently to The Birmingham eye hospital, because of the danger of losing the vision in my other eye. We again had a very long wait and at about 7pm I was given high dose steroids and told to return the next day. I was admitted for 3 days and given high dose steroids.

I told Good Hope A&E that the 111 service to get to the hospital within the hour to which the replied 'they always say that'.

I now have permanent loss of vision in my one eye and was I could have completely lost my vision within hours.