"Very efficient"

I had to double - check with staff, that I was being dealt with by the NHS, as the process seemed way too efficient. I’m allowed to say this because I spent 37 years of my 40 year nursing career, in the NHS. Online and telephone screening prior to the planned procedure hopefully weeds out anyone unsuitable, so that my first physical appointment was on the day of the first surgery. All staff were excellent, kind and professional. They really couldn't have been better - the NHS at its best - and believe me, I’ve had enough experience on the receiving end of it at its worst. Fortunately I didn't have to wait until the second cataract became “bad enough“, and the second extraction was planned for six weeks after the first. 

The only downside to the otherwise positive experience was having to engage with Dora, the friendly automated telephone assistant. I felt that I had to comply preoperatively, but there is no way that I would engage with that infuriating thing when I don’t have to. The closed questions were not always relevant, and dealing with a disembodied voice really stressed me out, something that my husband agreed with when I read this account out to him. “Dora” clearly saves you money, but I wish that we didn't have to speak to an automated telephone assistant.