"Eye Clinic Waiting time initiative"

I have been treated for raised eye pressures and latterly glaucoma for nearly 23 yrs since the age of 39. I have lived in Scotland for 20 years and lived within 4 different Health Boards and fully understand there is a lack of Glaucoma specialists.

Just over 2 years ago I moved to a different Scottish Health Board. My new GP referred me to the local health board to get in to their system and review. Over the last 2 years I have seen a different Consultant at weekend clinics. These Consultants came from a variety of Health Boards across the UK e.g. London, Carlisle. I was told they were working for the local Glaucoma Consultant and these Saturday clinics were being undertaken to ensure the waiting times were kept down but if any problem was detected I would be seen by the local Glaucoma Specialist.

After an emergency admission to hospital for another reason my eye drops were reviewed and changed and my GP wrote to the local Glaucoma Specialist to inform him. I was then asked to attend to see the local Glaucoma Specialist as a new patient who had no hospital notes from the locum private Consultants. Tests done that day showed my pressures were very high, there had been  further 13% visual loss in the right eye. Furthermore it transpired none of the locum Consultants had taken the issue of my extremely thin cornea in to consideration at their reviews and had not given me any appropriate review of my previous trabulectomy. The local Glaucoma specialist arranged for me to have urgent laser trabuloplasty to try and bring down pressures. I was fortunate this was done as lockdown started but have no idea if it has been successful yet. The Glaucoma Specialist stated these Consultants ‘do not work for him’ and for 2 years I had received sub-optimal treatment which has caused more eye damage. 

If I had not had an emergency hospital admission the issue may still have not been detected and continued visual loss.

This weekend initiative may result in the Government waiting times being kept in check but if others patients like me have not received appropriate timely treatment what will the clinical effects be and how will it effect their long term quality of life? In addition there is extra pressure put on the regular NHS Scotland Consultants who have to deal with the mistakes. I cannot imagine paying private agency Consultants being a cheap option. Why is the funding for this initiative be put in to frontline eye clinics of the regular Consultants instead?