"Waiting list for an opthamology appointment"

After my annual eye appointment at my regular opticians in November 2017, I was referred to the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion, Edinburgh for further eye tests in relation to Glaucoma. I was advised at the time that the waiting list what quite long and that it would take between 3-4 months to be seen. In approximately Jan/Feb 2018 (3/4 months after being added to the waiting list) I received a telephone call to see if I wanted to remain on the waiting, which I confirmed I did.

Mid June 2018, I received a letter from the Eye Pavilion asking if I wanted to remain on the waiting list and that if I did, I would need to reply within 14 days of the date of the letter, otherwise I would be removed from the waiting list. Of course, I am keen to remain on the waiting list, as I have a reason to be on the waiting list.  I decided to phone up the telephone number (there was no e-mail address to reply to) and had to try numerous times to get through, and after much waiting got through to a person. Asked again, if I wanted to remain on the waiting list, I said yes and when I asked when I might be seen, was advised that the current waiting list is 11 months.

I am quite disappointed at the length of waiting list, but what is more concerning is that there have been numerous attempts to remove me from the waiting list. Receiving the letter with the threat of removal from the waiting list is not good - what would have happened if I had been on holiday and not been able to reply in said timeframe, would I have been removed? What if the letter had been lost in the post? How much administration and postage costs are involved in sending these are all these waiting letters?  What about people who have eye issues or cognitive issues who could not read these letters? What about someone whose first language is not English?

Need I go on, needless to say, I love the NHS but am sorely disappointed in both the length of time on the waiting as well as the numerous attempts to encourage me to leave the waiting list.

I shall keep on waiting!

Many thanks