"Cataract calamity continues"

I am totally frustrated with the current situation. Its "catch 22", I am desperate to regain sight in my left eye, but have lost all confidence in the Ophthalmology department of Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline.

I am currently awaiting an official response to a stage 2 complaint and am left with no doubt that I will be taking the matter before the ombudsman.

My previous story on this site detailed the lack of communication and empathy during my cataract "journey" which started in early July. I had thought that raising the matter would improve the communication, but alas the ordeal continues.

I was seen by a surgeon in early October and was informed of the reason for the previous delays. This was explained as being a need to discuss the type of lens to implant with a colleague, because of previous laser eye surgery, and it had taken a while to do so.  Treatment was agreed and that now I could be scheduled a date for surgery.

I confirmed that I was eager to have surgery ASAP and that I would take any available cancellation and would stay in the local area and be able to attend within an hour.

I was informed that I would be top of the list.

I was telephoned the following day and given a surgery date of late November but reassured that I would be contacted as soon as any cancellations occurred. I asked how many cancellations happen on average every month and was given the number of 10, which gave me considerable solace, believing I would be treated within a matter of days.

4 weeks later and I am still waiting. I have called several times to the hospital asking if there had been any cancellations, only to be told no. On one occasion I was told that I didn't really need to keep calling, as they would call me.

Yesterday I contacted the patient relations team, as have not received a response to my stage 2 complaint. I was informed that the response would be received shortly. I informed them that I had submitted a freedom of information request, asking how many cataract procedures had been cancelled during my wait, as I was not convinced there were no cancellations. The relations officer agreed to telephone Ophthalmology to investigate.

The patient relations team then called me back and I was told what I had already suspected. There have been cancellations! However the reason given for not allocating any cancellation to me was that suddenly my procedure is a grade 3 cataract and requires a double slot appointment and so for me to be offered any cancellation it would require two back to back patients to have procedures cancelled. 

I am at my wits end and perhaps discussing the matter with a solicitor would now be my best course, as I am totally deflated.